I just saw my monthly bill for the time I was in Egypt and Israel. I'm paying AT&T nearly FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS for data service! I'll get over a hundred of it back, but they're a huge corporation. One can only assume their resources are greater than mine. Why in the world should I have to carry $100+ for a month? Well, of course the answer is because that's how they get to be a huge corporation.
But I'm annoyed. I'm extremely annoyed, because I told them when I'd come back and they said I was all set for the charge to drop off. Then they had to change my data plan and they were supposed to backdate the change. Apparently that didn't happen.
I happen to dislike Verizon even more than AT&T -- they may have great service now, but I'm still stuck on the Verizon wireless router that wouldn't carry the signal through the sheetrock and metal walls in my house. I had to buy a real router to get the signal all the way through my apt.
Four hundred dollars for ten days worth of internet access. I am SOOOO hacking my phone before my next trip so I can buy a foreign sim card. If these guys would pay half as much attention to their technical infrastructure as they do to screwing the little guy out of every possible penny, then we might actually have an unrestricted flow of information and people might be able to get work done on their wireless devices instead of walking around in crappy moods because the little pieces of garbage don't work.
After I don't know how many years with the iPhone, I may be ready to go to 'droid...
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Sugar Overload
Tonite on the way back from picking up some gifts for kids, I stopped in a place called Garrett's. It's a specialty popcorn shop. I got some pecan caramel popcorn mixed with almond caramel popcorn. Got a small bag for $4.50 or so. Before I got downstairs to the subway, I turned around, went up the stairs, and bought a medium, this time including cashew caramel in the mix.
As I stood on the train eating it, a big guy beside me mentioned how good it smelled. (This popcorn, in different flavors, made Oprah's "O" list. A couple of things I like are on her list: The red velvet cake from Rockland bakeries and the now-defunct Harlem Tea Room). I offered him some, but he declined. Before I got home, I could literally feel the sugar coursing through my veins. It felt like electricity coursing through my body.
And I'm still munching on it. It is delicious.
Watching the news now. President Obama's hair has whitened noticeably, as has the hair of all our recent presidents, except the shrub. I made some not-so-flattering comments about that, but deleted them.
So these people are called "sex workers." They're prostitutes. While I feel for them and the fact that they are often victimized as a result of the work they do, are we now so PC that we're acting like "sex workers" are just like, for instance, "steel workers?" Is it not a choice to break the law and enter into sex work? Of course the answer to that is, more often than not, no. So perhaps the current trend to a kinder gentler label is the realization that pejorative labels simply serve to re-victimize an already victimized worker.
OK, I suppose I can get with that....
Before I hit the popcorn shop, I stopped at a camera store on 5th avenue and 31st street. I wanted to pick up a UV filter for my new lens. I'd looked online and seen a filter kit for about 30 bucks, so figured I'd go ahead and purchase that. I meant to get a capkeeper as well. So I go to the store and tell the guy about the lens filter kit I want. He tells me it'll be $129.00 -- which is about 4 times what I expected. When I tell him about the price online, he says "oh, that's our online special." So I told him I'd go to a competitor. I didn't, of course. But I did stop into one of those touristy places where they tried to sell me a single UV filter for $40.00, insisting that it was "Made in Japan" and was pure crystal. Um, yeah, Mr. Dude. I was born on a Thursday, but not yesterday. There is no doubt that filter quality can vary, but there is also no doubt that prices are jacked up in tourist traps. If he wanted $40.00 for one filter, then I should be paying about $40.00 for the set. So I came home and ordered a set from J&R. Just shy of $40.00 for the set, and I can pick it up tomorrow after I get out of the gym. B&H is closed on Saturdays (and they don't allow online ordering on Saturdays), and it does seem that north of $100.00 seems to be the price. I only paid $210 for the entire lens; I'm not paying more than 50% of that for a filter. At least not yet. Perhaps if my picture quality could be drastically improved, but I'd have to see that first.
The bus to the train from my South Bronx office didn't come for nearly half an hour, and when one finally came, it was so packed that people were standing on the steps. There was literally no room to get on the bus. So I tried hailing a cab. Just like the guy in front of me. A cabbie stopped for the guy first, and I said something to them that I won't repeat here. Later on a cabbie picked me up. When I got out of the cab, I thanked and blessed the driver and wished him a Feliz Navidad. Why was my response to the two cabbies different? Whether you please me or not, aren't all people worthy of the same blessings? Aren't we all covered by God's grace, which is not a function of our behavior or qualities, but of God's quality? There's a lesson there for me...
I see on the news where the Magnolia bakery has just signed a 10 year lease here in Harlem. It will be as a distribution point, but I wonder: 1) how come it's a freaking cupcake industry that's coming to Harlem. Which is not a fair criticism, because we have lots of businesses here. There is actually less and less reason for me to go below 86th Street these days. But the most important question I have is 2) How will Magnolia's move uptown affect Tonnies? Though the answer may be found in the fact that I neither know nor care if I've ever eaten a Magnolia bakery cupcake. It's Tonnie's that I take to parties.
Looking at Vada Vasquez, a 15 year old kid who survived being shot in the head. IT happened right outside one of our buildings. Kudos to the kids from PS 22 in Staten Island, whose videos have gone viral on You Tube and who have just been invited to the Oscars by Anne Hathaway.
If neither of us spaces out, Amit and I will go to see Tron tomorrow night. I kinda missed the Corporate world when he shared the amount of his bonus with me. A bonus for my current job will be keeping the doors open... Although the other night I got up and had some Almond Roca. There were only two pieces in the gift basked I got, and I wanted some more. Imagine how surprised I was the next day when someone delivered a gift tin of Almond Roca from a vendor!!! Reminds me that if God can give me the desires of my heart (and abundance) with something as small as a piece of candy, God will certainly direct my way with every other area of my life. I just need to make sure my life is lived in accordance with God's will. And stop getting annoyed with cabbies.
Missed my 10 pm bedtime, but need to crash soon. Lessons and blessings in everything.
As I stood on the train eating it, a big guy beside me mentioned how good it smelled. (This popcorn, in different flavors, made Oprah's "O" list. A couple of things I like are on her list: The red velvet cake from Rockland bakeries and the now-defunct Harlem Tea Room). I offered him some, but he declined. Before I got home, I could literally feel the sugar coursing through my veins. It felt like electricity coursing through my body.
And I'm still munching on it. It is delicious.
Watching the news now. President Obama's hair has whitened noticeably, as has the hair of all our recent presidents, except the shrub. I made some not-so-flattering comments about that, but deleted them.
So these people are called "sex workers." They're prostitutes. While I feel for them and the fact that they are often victimized as a result of the work they do, are we now so PC that we're acting like "sex workers" are just like, for instance, "steel workers?" Is it not a choice to break the law and enter into sex work? Of course the answer to that is, more often than not, no. So perhaps the current trend to a kinder gentler label is the realization that pejorative labels simply serve to re-victimize an already victimized worker.
OK, I suppose I can get with that....
Before I hit the popcorn shop, I stopped at a camera store on 5th avenue and 31st street. I wanted to pick up a UV filter for my new lens. I'd looked online and seen a filter kit for about 30 bucks, so figured I'd go ahead and purchase that. I meant to get a capkeeper as well. So I go to the store and tell the guy about the lens filter kit I want. He tells me it'll be $129.00 -- which is about 4 times what I expected. When I tell him about the price online, he says "oh, that's our online special." So I told him I'd go to a competitor. I didn't, of course. But I did stop into one of those touristy places where they tried to sell me a single UV filter for $40.00, insisting that it was "Made in Japan" and was pure crystal. Um, yeah, Mr. Dude. I was born on a Thursday, but not yesterday. There is no doubt that filter quality can vary, but there is also no doubt that prices are jacked up in tourist traps. If he wanted $40.00 for one filter, then I should be paying about $40.00 for the set. So I came home and ordered a set from J&R. Just shy of $40.00 for the set, and I can pick it up tomorrow after I get out of the gym. B&H is closed on Saturdays (and they don't allow online ordering on Saturdays), and it does seem that north of $100.00 seems to be the price. I only paid $210 for the entire lens; I'm not paying more than 50% of that for a filter. At least not yet. Perhaps if my picture quality could be drastically improved, but I'd have to see that first.
The bus to the train from my South Bronx office didn't come for nearly half an hour, and when one finally came, it was so packed that people were standing on the steps. There was literally no room to get on the bus. So I tried hailing a cab. Just like the guy in front of me. A cabbie stopped for the guy first, and I said something to them that I won't repeat here. Later on a cabbie picked me up. When I got out of the cab, I thanked and blessed the driver and wished him a Feliz Navidad. Why was my response to the two cabbies different? Whether you please me or not, aren't all people worthy of the same blessings? Aren't we all covered by God's grace, which is not a function of our behavior or qualities, but of God's quality? There's a lesson there for me...
I see on the news where the Magnolia bakery has just signed a 10 year lease here in Harlem. It will be as a distribution point, but I wonder: 1) how come it's a freaking cupcake industry that's coming to Harlem. Which is not a fair criticism, because we have lots of businesses here. There is actually less and less reason for me to go below 86th Street these days. But the most important question I have is 2) How will Magnolia's move uptown affect Tonnies? Though the answer may be found in the fact that I neither know nor care if I've ever eaten a Magnolia bakery cupcake. It's Tonnie's that I take to parties.
Looking at Vada Vasquez, a 15 year old kid who survived being shot in the head. IT happened right outside one of our buildings. Kudos to the kids from PS 22 in Staten Island, whose videos have gone viral on You Tube and who have just been invited to the Oscars by Anne Hathaway.
If neither of us spaces out, Amit and I will go to see Tron tomorrow night. I kinda missed the Corporate world when he shared the amount of his bonus with me. A bonus for my current job will be keeping the doors open... Although the other night I got up and had some Almond Roca. There were only two pieces in the gift basked I got, and I wanted some more. Imagine how surprised I was the next day when someone delivered a gift tin of Almond Roca from a vendor!!! Reminds me that if God can give me the desires of my heart (and abundance) with something as small as a piece of candy, God will certainly direct my way with every other area of my life. I just need to make sure my life is lived in accordance with God's will. And stop getting annoyed with cabbies.
Missed my 10 pm bedtime, but need to crash soon. Lessons and blessings in everything.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
I'm in a really pissy mood today
This agency has sooo many challenges, and my focus has gone from trying to craft an 18-month plan to move us forward to trying to keep the doors open through the spring. It's wearing on me physically.
So I turn to Facebook, where a friend (straight, married, evangelical male) posted about gay marriage. It was something like: "Let me get this straight - Larry King is getting his 8th divorce, Elizabeth Taylor is getting married for a 9th time, Britney Spears had a 55 hr marriage, Jesse James & Tiger Woods cheated on their wives several times, Tony Parker cheated w/a teammates wife & some religions favor multiple wives, yet the idea of same-sex marriage will destroy the institution of marriage... REALLY??!! Re post this if you agree!"
So of course I posted, waiting for my more conservative friends to blow me up. I only got people agreeing with me -- either it's not an issue or people just don't pay me any mind anymore. We did get into a long, drawn out discussion with a self-described "conservative, evangelical, Latino" on the status of sex, sexuality, marriage, etc. I posted there what I've posted many times: Can someone explain to me why it is that we Christians get so hung up on sex and sexuality and stick to the Word on that, but choose to dismiss the Word when it tells us not to eat pork or shellfish (or many of the other Levitical holiness ...codes, one of which is the prohibition against homosexuality). How come we're even on the internet, since Jesus said we should sell our possessions and give them to the poor and THEN come follow Him? How come we never talk about how much Jesus' ministry was about casting off the chains of social and economic injustice, versus how much it dealt with sexuality? How come we stick to (what we understand to be) the literal Word sometimes and feel free to interpret it at other times?
Lots of people have shared their thoughts with me, but none in a way that I fully understand. This is not directed at anyone and I'm not trying to point fingers or pick specks out of any eyes, but trying to understand thought processes ...
Sorry. I realize it's a lot of questions all together; inquiring minds and all."
No one's ever explained that to me in a way that both honored the Word and made sense to me. The guy who started the thread posted this link: http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christian or the free pdf version. You can download the free pdf version here.
All that is background. Today the guy posted an article from Religion Dispatches about the Anti-Gay Conservatives, which leads to my comment for today.
What if, instead of cobbling together assorted Scriptures from the Old and New Testaments to make a point about how people express their love, what if instead we were to focus on a something Jesus said consistently in the Synoptic Gospels. What if we were instead to focus on how people LIVE, and to use as our basis the stories as told in Matthew 19:22-24, Mark 10:24-25, and Luke 18:24-25. No matter whether you're of the school that He was talking about a literal eye of a needle or whether He was talking about a narrow gate named Eye of the Needle, Jesus pretty consistently makes the point that rich people will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. So why, then, do we have so many Christians who accumulate wealth? Isn't that contrary to entering into the Kingdom?
Did not Jesus and His followers live as socialists, all contributing their earthly possessions for the common good? Wasn't it Ananias and Sapphira who were struck dead when they tried to keep not all but SOME of their profits for themselves? It seems pretty clear that the Bible speaks against accumulation of wealth and materialism, yet we interpret it away -- this passage we always say is about lying to the Holy Ghost. Yes, but the lie was ABOUT materialism. The lie was to cover up a stingy materialist nature.
We never talk about those things, yet Jesus did. How are we justified in obsessing over sexuality, which He never mentioned (except to side with those who committed sexual sins) and yet we ignore His teachings on materialism, or actively engage in it? We have Christian teachings on money management, Christian teachings on creating wealth -- isn't the "prosperity Gospel" completely contrary to the Spirit of what Jesus taught? We talk about our Father's abundance, and his many mansions, but aren't those HEAVENLY mansions, and heavenly abundance, which Jesus has clearly told us we can't partake of if we cling to earthly material things?
Looking at my friend's FB page, I see he's posted another article from Religion Dispatch, titled Tax Cuts for the Super Rich Aren't Biblical. While I don't think many of us (who aren't super rich) would argue with that, what about those of us who AREN'T super rich, but who still hang in there in the rat race? Is that Biblical?
Nah, we won't have that discussion. It ain't right.
So I turn to Facebook, where a friend (straight, married, evangelical male) posted about gay marriage. It was something like: "Let me get this straight - Larry King is getting his 8th divorce, Elizabeth Taylor is getting married for a 9th time, Britney Spears had a 55 hr marriage, Jesse James & Tiger Woods cheated on their wives several times, Tony Parker cheated w/a teammates wife & some religions favor multiple wives, yet the idea of same-sex marriage will destroy the institution of marriage... REALLY??!! Re post this if you agree!"
So of course I posted, waiting for my more conservative friends to blow me up. I only got people agreeing with me -- either it's not an issue or people just don't pay me any mind anymore. We did get into a long, drawn out discussion with a self-described "conservative, evangelical, Latino" on the status of sex, sexuality, marriage, etc. I posted there what I've posted many times: Can someone explain to me why it is that we Christians get so hung up on sex and sexuality and stick to the Word on that, but choose to dismiss the Word when it tells us not to eat pork or shellfish (or many of the other Levitical holiness ...codes, one of which is the prohibition against homosexuality). How come we're even on the internet, since Jesus said we should sell our possessions and give them to the poor and THEN come follow Him? How come we never talk about how much Jesus' ministry was about casting off the chains of social and economic injustice, versus how much it dealt with sexuality? How come we stick to (what we understand to be) the literal Word sometimes and feel free to interpret it at other times?
Lots of people have shared their thoughts with me, but none in a way that I fully understand. This is not directed at anyone and I'm not trying to point fingers or pick specks out of any eyes, but trying to understand thought processes ...
Sorry. I realize it's a lot of questions all together; inquiring minds and all."
No one's ever explained that to me in a way that both honored the Word and made sense to me. The guy who started the thread posted this link: http://www.soulforce.org/article/homosexuality-bible-gay-christian or the free pdf version. You can download the free pdf version here.
All that is background. Today the guy posted an article from Religion Dispatches about the Anti-Gay Conservatives, which leads to my comment for today.
What if, instead of cobbling together assorted Scriptures from the Old and New Testaments to make a point about how people express their love, what if instead we were to focus on a something Jesus said consistently in the Synoptic Gospels. What if we were instead to focus on how people LIVE, and to use as our basis the stories as told in Matthew 19:22-24, Mark 10:24-25, and Luke 18:24-25. No matter whether you're of the school that He was talking about a literal eye of a needle or whether He was talking about a narrow gate named Eye of the Needle, Jesus pretty consistently makes the point that rich people will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. So why, then, do we have so many Christians who accumulate wealth? Isn't that contrary to entering into the Kingdom?
Did not Jesus and His followers live as socialists, all contributing their earthly possessions for the common good? Wasn't it Ananias and Sapphira who were struck dead when they tried to keep not all but SOME of their profits for themselves? It seems pretty clear that the Bible speaks against accumulation of wealth and materialism, yet we interpret it away -- this passage we always say is about lying to the Holy Ghost. Yes, but the lie was ABOUT materialism. The lie was to cover up a stingy materialist nature.
We never talk about those things, yet Jesus did. How are we justified in obsessing over sexuality, which He never mentioned (except to side with those who committed sexual sins) and yet we ignore His teachings on materialism, or actively engage in it? We have Christian teachings on money management, Christian teachings on creating wealth -- isn't the "prosperity Gospel" completely contrary to the Spirit of what Jesus taught? We talk about our Father's abundance, and his many mansions, but aren't those HEAVENLY mansions, and heavenly abundance, which Jesus has clearly told us we can't partake of if we cling to earthly material things?
Looking at my friend's FB page, I see he's posted another article from Religion Dispatch, titled Tax Cuts for the Super Rich Aren't Biblical. While I don't think many of us (who aren't super rich) would argue with that, what about those of us who AREN'T super rich, but who still hang in there in the rat race? Is that Biblical?
Nah, we won't have that discussion. It ain't right.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Today was an interesting day
Difficult, but interesting. The majority of the day was spent terminating three employees. I hated to do it, especially since they are all males of color, but one admitting theft of over $1500 in goods; one had no measurable output in the 10 months I've been there, and was often MIA, and was observed handling drugs for clients for whom he had no formal responsibility; he had also borrowed money from clients, and the final one had borrowed money from clients. At the end of the day, I believe at least one of their superiors had a personal interest in seeing them leave our employ, but that is superfluous to the fact that each of these people gave us a reaon to terminate their employment.
Afterwards, I went to the holiday party from my former employer. It was in the sixth floor ballroom of the Marriot Marquis. It was as lavishly decorated as always. The serving stations had miniature caesar salads in shot classes, little wedge salads on square miniature saucers, the omnipresent sushi bars, some sort of jumbo shrimp concoction, crab claws, stations for carving beef, turkey, and pork; a cheese bar, some kinda spoon with quince compote and cheese, bacon-wrapped dates, an antipasta bar (a real antipasta bar, with sliced prosciutto, salami, marinated peppers and I don't know what else). There was also a station serving lobster ravioli, mac and cheese, and chilean sea bass. There were ceviche shots -- scallops in some sort of lime and cilantro mixture, served in shot glasses. The dessert bar was just as luscious. There were lychee spoons topped with pistachio, a blood orange brulee, chocolate spoons, citrus spoons, chocolate caramel shots, chocolate and vanilla boston cream pie cones, chocolate truffle pops, a sorbet station, a passionfruit something in a merengue cup, something kinda peachy; and I don't remember what else. I could only eat a few items at a time, but there was lots of protein for me to get in, and the portions were small. I interspersed eating with lots of dancing. Oh, and there was an open bar. Even though I don't drink, it's always fun to watch people who do, though I have to say that people seem to hold their liquor a lot better than at office parties in earlier years.
Note: I was so happy that I wore my tuxedo shirt with the red bow tie and cummerbund and the gold vest. When I walked into the Marriott, the coat check people had on white (not tuxedo) shirts with gold vests. I think their vests were the same shade, but mine was glossy and theirs were matte. Since mine was too big and theirs were generally ill-fitting, I looked like one of the coat check people. Even though my bow tie and cummerbund were red instead of black, with the black suit on, I could easily have passed for a waitstaff person.
So it probably wasn't the best choice in clothing, but I liked it.
And for a few hours, it was great to see everyone, and it got my mind off the day.
It appears to me that our place of work is not a place that is a professional social services organization -- it's a sort of workfare place where people look for ways to get money from the government while doing as little as possible. That's the pervasive organizational culture, and it absolutely has to change. It's like people are so stupid they think that because this is an organization it can create money to which they are automatically entitled. I honestly want to believe tht the root issue isn't people being dishonest so much as it is people just being stupid.
OH, well. We'll see where this goes.
Afterwards, I went to the holiday party from my former employer. It was in the sixth floor ballroom of the Marriot Marquis. It was as lavishly decorated as always. The serving stations had miniature caesar salads in shot classes, little wedge salads on square miniature saucers, the omnipresent sushi bars, some sort of jumbo shrimp concoction, crab claws, stations for carving beef, turkey, and pork; a cheese bar, some kinda spoon with quince compote and cheese, bacon-wrapped dates, an antipasta bar (a real antipasta bar, with sliced prosciutto, salami, marinated peppers and I don't know what else). There was also a station serving lobster ravioli, mac and cheese, and chilean sea bass. There were ceviche shots -- scallops in some sort of lime and cilantro mixture, served in shot glasses. The dessert bar was just as luscious. There were lychee spoons topped with pistachio, a blood orange brulee, chocolate spoons, citrus spoons, chocolate caramel shots, chocolate and vanilla boston cream pie cones, chocolate truffle pops, a sorbet station, a passionfruit something in a merengue cup, something kinda peachy; and I don't remember what else. I could only eat a few items at a time, but there was lots of protein for me to get in, and the portions were small. I interspersed eating with lots of dancing. Oh, and there was an open bar. Even though I don't drink, it's always fun to watch people who do, though I have to say that people seem to hold their liquor a lot better than at office parties in earlier years.
Note: I was so happy that I wore my tuxedo shirt with the red bow tie and cummerbund and the gold vest. When I walked into the Marriott, the coat check people had on white (not tuxedo) shirts with gold vests. I think their vests were the same shade, but mine was glossy and theirs were matte. Since mine was too big and theirs were generally ill-fitting, I looked like one of the coat check people. Even though my bow tie and cummerbund were red instead of black, with the black suit on, I could easily have passed for a waitstaff person.
So it probably wasn't the best choice in clothing, but I liked it.
And for a few hours, it was great to see everyone, and it got my mind off the day.
It appears to me that our place of work is not a place that is a professional social services organization -- it's a sort of workfare place where people look for ways to get money from the government while doing as little as possible. That's the pervasive organizational culture, and it absolutely has to change. It's like people are so stupid they think that because this is an organization it can create money to which they are automatically entitled. I honestly want to believe tht the root issue isn't people being dishonest so much as it is people just being stupid.
OH, well. We'll see where this goes.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
The "Secularization" of Christmas
We Christians like to lament the "secularization" of Christmas. But what if we were to empower ourselves and each other and look at it from a different way? It occurs to me that Christmas is a sacred holiday and that, no matter how hard the enemy tries, it can never be secularized. That is because it remains sacred in the hearts of believers.
It has been incredibly commercialized, but I think we should look upon that as an evangelistic opportunity. When we see Santa Claus, SAINT Nicholas, Father Christmas, or the other names by which he is commonly known, instead of lamenting him as some sort of idolatrous manifestation, perhaps we could look at him as a popular iconic representation of Jesus Christ. Santa is commonly depicted as dressed in red and associated with giving gifts. Is that not a perfect opportunity to speak of Jesus Christ, whose birthday is celebrated as Christmas Day? Jesus is the ULTIMATE Giver of the Ultimate Gift, which is Eternal Life. Just as Santa's suit is red, we should remember the precious blood that Jesus shed so we might all have a right to that Eternal Life.
In a popular Christmas song, children are told that Santa will find out who's been naughty or nice, much as Christians are told there will be an ultimate judgement. Santa is often said to come to our homes through a chimney, which reminds me of the fact that our Divine Christ had to enter into a sinfilled world, taking on human form, in order to give us this Ultimate Gift.
Christmas time is filled with lights. Rather than decry the commercialism, we should be reminded that Jesus is the light of the world. Likewise, when we see the Christmas tree, it should remind us that Our Savior hung on a tree for the salvation of the world.
This re-attaching of sacred symbolism to "secularized" Christmas objects is not new. Consider the popular story of the candy cane. The story goes that the white in the candy cane symbolizes Jesus' sinless nature, the hardness of the candy symbolizes the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and the firmness of the promises of God. The candy is shaped in the form of a "J," either to represent Jesus (if you speak English) or to represent a Shepherd's staff. The smaller stripes on the candy represent Jesus' stripes by which we are healed, and the large stripe represents the Blood that was shed on Calvary. Lately, there have been many variations on this story, and there are debunkers who denounce as untrue the theory that a candy maker created the candy cane and intentionally adopted the above symbolism. At the end of the day, to me, at least, it does not matter whether the candy was intentionally created with that symbolism -- it matters that the symbolism exists and can be used as a tool for sharing the message and the Good News of Jesus Christ.
I see the same opportunities with other popular Christmas images. The air of excitement and anticipation we see and feel during the Christmas season is (or should be) a direct reflection of the joy and excitement felt in the hearts of Christians as we anticipate the coming of our New Born King!
It seems we have choices. We can sit back and complain about how commercial Christmas has become, and how people focus more on Santa than on Jesus, or how "Christ", "Jesus" and "Lord" are seldom used when speaking about the holiday that celebrates His Birth -- OR we can re-co-opt the Christmas symbols and use them to continue spreading the Good News and telling the Christmas Story.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
It has been incredibly commercialized, but I think we should look upon that as an evangelistic opportunity. When we see Santa Claus, SAINT Nicholas, Father Christmas, or the other names by which he is commonly known, instead of lamenting him as some sort of idolatrous manifestation, perhaps we could look at him as a popular iconic representation of Jesus Christ. Santa is commonly depicted as dressed in red and associated with giving gifts. Is that not a perfect opportunity to speak of Jesus Christ, whose birthday is celebrated as Christmas Day? Jesus is the ULTIMATE Giver of the Ultimate Gift, which is Eternal Life. Just as Santa's suit is red, we should remember the precious blood that Jesus shed so we might all have a right to that Eternal Life.
In a popular Christmas song, children are told that Santa will find out who's been naughty or nice, much as Christians are told there will be an ultimate judgement. Santa is often said to come to our homes through a chimney, which reminds me of the fact that our Divine Christ had to enter into a sinfilled world, taking on human form, in order to give us this Ultimate Gift.
Christmas time is filled with lights. Rather than decry the commercialism, we should be reminded that Jesus is the light of the world. Likewise, when we see the Christmas tree, it should remind us that Our Savior hung on a tree for the salvation of the world.
This re-attaching of sacred symbolism to "secularized" Christmas objects is not new. Consider the popular story of the candy cane. The story goes that the white in the candy cane symbolizes Jesus' sinless nature, the hardness of the candy symbolizes the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and the firmness of the promises of God. The candy is shaped in the form of a "J," either to represent Jesus (if you speak English) or to represent a Shepherd's staff. The smaller stripes on the candy represent Jesus' stripes by which we are healed, and the large stripe represents the Blood that was shed on Calvary. Lately, there have been many variations on this story, and there are debunkers who denounce as untrue the theory that a candy maker created the candy cane and intentionally adopted the above symbolism. At the end of the day, to me, at least, it does not matter whether the candy was intentionally created with that symbolism -- it matters that the symbolism exists and can be used as a tool for sharing the message and the Good News of Jesus Christ.
I see the same opportunities with other popular Christmas images. The air of excitement and anticipation we see and feel during the Christmas season is (or should be) a direct reflection of the joy and excitement felt in the hearts of Christians as we anticipate the coming of our New Born King!
It seems we have choices. We can sit back and complain about how commercial Christmas has become, and how people focus more on Santa than on Jesus, or how "Christ", "Jesus" and "Lord" are seldom used when speaking about the holiday that celebrates His Birth -- OR we can re-co-opt the Christmas symbols and use them to continue spreading the Good News and telling the Christmas Story.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Elizabeth Edwards
May her soul rest in peace. I always liked her, when she was with John, but even more after he turned out to be a cheating scumbag and she remained a figure of grace and dignity.
But I'm really upset with the media. I can't help but thinking that, with all their power and influence, they are increasingly becoming self-fulfilling prophets. They report stories with the slant of whatever lens they're looking through, they inundate the air with their reports, and then reality starts to look like what they've said.
Being a cancer survivor, I know the importance of positive affirmations in the healing process. While I can't know anything about Ms. Edwards' last hours, I do know about my own cousin, Joanne. J also had stage 4 breast cancer but, with the help of a strong supportive family, was doing quite well. She'd been able to go on a cruise and was needing less oxygen. On a regular checkup, she was at Duke Hospital and some stupid, ignorant, insensitive "doctor" looked at her chart and said, "You know you're dying, don't you?" Within a month, Joanne did just that.
I'm not one to shy away from death, nor from unpleasant medical realities. I don't even believe in prolonged artificial end-of-life treatment simply to delay death. But I do believe in fully living one's life, I do believe in hope in the face of overwhelming odds, I do believe in the power of positive reinforcement and, yes, I do believe in miracles. While I have no use for a medical professional who is unwilling/unable to share unpleasant truths with their patient, I also have no use for medical professionals (or media pundits) who offer their spin on "truth" without compassion. As some wise people once told me, "Truth without Compassion is Brutality."
It seems that today so many people engage in unfettered brutality in the name of truth. There's that Asange idiot, who acts like a toddler who's just discovered his penis "LOOKIE!! LOOK AT WHAT I'VE GOT! WOOHOO,THAT feels good!" He's displaying the same sort of narcissistic, self-absorbed obsession with what HE can do, what HE believes is appropriate, with absolutely no regard for the established order that dictates appropriate courses of behavior for the greater good in civilized societies (which is not to say that established order is always a good thing; I'm simply saying that wholesale rejection of that order leads to chaos, which is where I believe Assange's actions lead us).
And so it is with the media. What good was there in publicizing the fact that this woman, who had been through so much, was nearing her final hours? Who had a need or right to know her prognosis? What if, in her last hours on earth, she did choose to turn on the TV -- how would it feel to be deathly ill and to have every station you turn to REPORTING on that illness? Could that have an impact or an effect on one's health? I think so.
Is there no code of ethics in journalism? It's supposed to be about the truth, I thought -- the whole deal with reporters and reporting is that Americans have a right to know the truth. But in this age of information overload, it seems one ultimately needs to define "truth." Do I really need to know the intimate details of every pseudo- or wannabe celebrity's sex life? Does it edify anyone to report on a woman's terminal cancer prognosis? Why do we have such tunnel vision about minutia here in America while overlooking huge beams such as, oh, I don't know ... our role in the International Community? The fact that we support and sustain a racist, apartheid regime?
Going way off topic here, but I have a question: We (Americans in general) are upset at Muslims because they have what we consider to be fanatical religious beliefs; namely, they believe Islam to be the True religion and everyone else to be infidels. We think they're bad people because they engage in terroristic acts to achieve goals they believe are demanded by their religious beliefs. Yet, we support other people who also have a religion that is exclusive to the point that it will not allow its adherents to even eat or drink food that is not prepared under their direction. They have set up a nation that once was a refuge for the oppressed but now has turned into a place that oppresses people who are "other." Their religious beliefs dictate this state, and their religious beliefs led them to engage in a war for freedom that, viewed from another point of view, could be seen as a terroristic thrust. It seems to me that the difference in how we Americans regard Muslims and Jews is one of perception. True, no Jewish people were masterminds of the 9/11 attacks on America, but Jewish people are the authors of systemic apartheid in Israel which ultimately attacks American credibility in the international community. How come there's no outrage there? Why do we nearly deify (or at least indemnify) one group but villify another, when their actions, viewed without an inherent bias towards or against either party, seem so similar?
How come we're focused on one woman who has run her race well, and are not looking at all the instances of people cheating and taking shortcuts? If we're so interested in fair news reporting, how come we couldn't just let her go home in peace and, in the interest of justice, take a look at something that we might have a possibility of doing something about? (sorry for that horrible sentence construction).
Wouldn't it be a wonderful tribute to Elizabeth Edwards if we could get our news media to begin fair and accurate news reporting? What if we could go back to a time when we had civility and standards in mass communication? I think that would be a wonderful tribute to a wonderful woman.
May she rest in peace, and may we live in peace.
But I'm really upset with the media. I can't help but thinking that, with all their power and influence, they are increasingly becoming self-fulfilling prophets. They report stories with the slant of whatever lens they're looking through, they inundate the air with their reports, and then reality starts to look like what they've said.
Being a cancer survivor, I know the importance of positive affirmations in the healing process. While I can't know anything about Ms. Edwards' last hours, I do know about my own cousin, Joanne. J also had stage 4 breast cancer but, with the help of a strong supportive family, was doing quite well. She'd been able to go on a cruise and was needing less oxygen. On a regular checkup, she was at Duke Hospital and some stupid, ignorant, insensitive "doctor" looked at her chart and said, "You know you're dying, don't you?" Within a month, Joanne did just that.
I'm not one to shy away from death, nor from unpleasant medical realities. I don't even believe in prolonged artificial end-of-life treatment simply to delay death. But I do believe in fully living one's life, I do believe in hope in the face of overwhelming odds, I do believe in the power of positive reinforcement and, yes, I do believe in miracles. While I have no use for a medical professional who is unwilling/unable to share unpleasant truths with their patient, I also have no use for medical professionals (or media pundits) who offer their spin on "truth" without compassion. As some wise people once told me, "Truth without Compassion is Brutality."
It seems that today so many people engage in unfettered brutality in the name of truth. There's that Asange idiot, who acts like a toddler who's just discovered his penis "LOOKIE!! LOOK AT WHAT I'VE GOT! WOOHOO,THAT feels good!" He's displaying the same sort of narcissistic, self-absorbed obsession with what HE can do, what HE believes is appropriate, with absolutely no regard for the established order that dictates appropriate courses of behavior for the greater good in civilized societies (which is not to say that established order is always a good thing; I'm simply saying that wholesale rejection of that order leads to chaos, which is where I believe Assange's actions lead us).
And so it is with the media. What good was there in publicizing the fact that this woman, who had been through so much, was nearing her final hours? Who had a need or right to know her prognosis? What if, in her last hours on earth, she did choose to turn on the TV -- how would it feel to be deathly ill and to have every station you turn to REPORTING on that illness? Could that have an impact or an effect on one's health? I think so.
Is there no code of ethics in journalism? It's supposed to be about the truth, I thought -- the whole deal with reporters and reporting is that Americans have a right to know the truth. But in this age of information overload, it seems one ultimately needs to define "truth." Do I really need to know the intimate details of every pseudo- or wannabe celebrity's sex life? Does it edify anyone to report on a woman's terminal cancer prognosis? Why do we have such tunnel vision about minutia here in America while overlooking huge beams such as, oh, I don't know ... our role in the International Community? The fact that we support and sustain a racist, apartheid regime?
Going way off topic here, but I have a question: We (Americans in general) are upset at Muslims because they have what we consider to be fanatical religious beliefs; namely, they believe Islam to be the True religion and everyone else to be infidels. We think they're bad people because they engage in terroristic acts to achieve goals they believe are demanded by their religious beliefs. Yet, we support other people who also have a religion that is exclusive to the point that it will not allow its adherents to even eat or drink food that is not prepared under their direction. They have set up a nation that once was a refuge for the oppressed but now has turned into a place that oppresses people who are "other." Their religious beliefs dictate this state, and their religious beliefs led them to engage in a war for freedom that, viewed from another point of view, could be seen as a terroristic thrust. It seems to me that the difference in how we Americans regard Muslims and Jews is one of perception. True, no Jewish people were masterminds of the 9/11 attacks on America, but Jewish people are the authors of systemic apartheid in Israel which ultimately attacks American credibility in the international community. How come there's no outrage there? Why do we nearly deify (or at least indemnify) one group but villify another, when their actions, viewed without an inherent bias towards or against either party, seem so similar?
How come we're focused on one woman who has run her race well, and are not looking at all the instances of people cheating and taking shortcuts? If we're so interested in fair news reporting, how come we couldn't just let her go home in peace and, in the interest of justice, take a look at something that we might have a possibility of doing something about? (sorry for that horrible sentence construction).
Wouldn't it be a wonderful tribute to Elizabeth Edwards if we could get our news media to begin fair and accurate news reporting? What if we could go back to a time when we had civility and standards in mass communication? I think that would be a wonderful tribute to a wonderful woman.
May she rest in peace, and may we live in peace.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Racial Profiling
Recently a livery cab driver of African descent was shot and robbed by a young Hispanic thug. Now Fernando Mateo, an Afro-Hispanic man who who is the president of the NY State Federation of Taxi Drivers, says that livery hacks should be careful of who they pick up. He says that the "God’s-honest truth is that 99 percent of the people that are robbing, stealing, killing these drivers are blacks and Hispanics. So if you see suspicious activity, you know what, don’t pick the person up."
People are outraged by his statements. I don't get it. What he said is, unfortunately, true. He is, of course, using that old double standard: "we can say it about ourselves, but other folks can't." So now the (white) news media is up in arms talking about how he's racially profiling, and Al Sharpton is all in the mix....
Who DOESN'T racially profile? I'm not trying to justify it; I'm stating that we live in an incredibly racist society. We constantly make value judgements and assumptions about people based on race. Think I'm off my rocker? Get a couple of 20-somethings or a couple of 30-somethings, two white and two of color, either black or Hispanic. (Asians would likely fall into the "white" group in this experiment, just like they do with reading scores). Have them scruffed out, like they've been playing ball on a Saturday afternoon or something. Then have them go into Tiffany's or some other Fifth Avenue store. I guarantee you that the white folks will be met face-to-face by salespeople while the people of color will be followed or monitored by security guards (if they're allowed in the store).
I know from experience that the way to get customer service in the big midtown stores when it's busy is to look a little rough around the edges. When the stores are absolutely packed with people and even white folks can't get a salesperson, all I have to do is hang out and wait and look a little scruffy. With my skin color, someone WILL approach me. True, they might be security, but someone WILL approach me.
We constantly assume that people who look a certain way fall into a certain class. Part of our assumptions are based on skin color, clothing, haircuts, footwear -- it's all part of the package, and they are all part of our quick and dirty social referent system that (we think) gives us indicators about an individual's standing in society and (for those of us who evaluate such things) about the probable outcomes of our interacting with those people.
Let me know your thoughts. I have to get to work, and this is only the beginning of my thoughts. Will try to post more on this later, but would love to know what others think.
People are outraged by his statements. I don't get it. What he said is, unfortunately, true. He is, of course, using that old double standard: "we can say it about ourselves, but other folks can't." So now the (white) news media is up in arms talking about how he's racially profiling, and Al Sharpton is all in the mix....
Who DOESN'T racially profile? I'm not trying to justify it; I'm stating that we live in an incredibly racist society. We constantly make value judgements and assumptions about people based on race. Think I'm off my rocker? Get a couple of 20-somethings or a couple of 30-somethings, two white and two of color, either black or Hispanic. (Asians would likely fall into the "white" group in this experiment, just like they do with reading scores). Have them scruffed out, like they've been playing ball on a Saturday afternoon or something. Then have them go into Tiffany's or some other Fifth Avenue store. I guarantee you that the white folks will be met face-to-face by salespeople while the people of color will be followed or monitored by security guards (if they're allowed in the store).
I know from experience that the way to get customer service in the big midtown stores when it's busy is to look a little rough around the edges. When the stores are absolutely packed with people and even white folks can't get a salesperson, all I have to do is hang out and wait and look a little scruffy. With my skin color, someone WILL approach me. True, they might be security, but someone WILL approach me.
We constantly assume that people who look a certain way fall into a certain class. Part of our assumptions are based on skin color, clothing, haircuts, footwear -- it's all part of the package, and they are all part of our quick and dirty social referent system that (we think) gives us indicators about an individual's standing in society and (for those of us who evaluate such things) about the probable outcomes of our interacting with those people.
Let me know your thoughts. I have to get to work, and this is only the beginning of my thoughts. Will try to post more on this later, but would love to know what others think.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Is it me?
Granted, my perception can be a little twisted at times. Having grown up as I did, I'm not usually hypersensitive to racial issues. But I can't help but think there's some sort of conspiracy directed against men (or all people) of color in the US. There's an unspoken media conspiracy against Barack Obama -- the media appears not to recognize that, by continually emphasizing (or, rather, hyper-inflating) any less than positive aspects of his Administration -- OR simply by reporting on ANY aspects of his administration from a biased, slanted, or otherwise impartial point of view -- they seem not to recognize that when they do this they create a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Granted, the US and world media did the reverse to Obama the candidate, which may have a bit to do with generating the critical mass that allowed him to win, and possibly has to do with why he won the Nobel Peace Prize. It may have been that, or it may have been a knee-jerk reaction to the Bush administration, or it may have been a collective desire to hope again, or it may simply have been that the brother was amazingly more qualified than anyone else who ran. But anyone who's not an idiot understands that the American political system is a big, lumbering, interconnected piece of machinery. There are multiple parts which simultaneously require attention and maintenance. No other American president has, in two terms, achieved what President Obama has achieved in less than one, but it looks like every malcontent in America considers our President fair game.
As I posted in another blog, I believe there's an unspoken conspiracy against men of color. It's expressed in the perverse desire to find fault with Obama, Charlie Rangel, and now Tiger Woods.
I'm not for a minute going to defend Tiger's philandering ways. I think his whole "I'm not black, but eight different ethnicities" spiel, plus his fondness for busty blondes, is probably evidence of the fact that he's simply not in touch with his inner black man. He's not the only one in that category, though, and his inner black man comes out when he's dominating the golf course. OK, he has some personal issues. Some really bad personal issues. That doesn't stop the fact that nobody watched or even cared about gold before Tiger Woods. And his personal issues don't deserve to be splashed all over the news for A YEAR, and they certainly are not appropriate fodder for commentators while he's trying to play golf.
He had a great image. He failed at something. He's human, and he's trying to make a comeback. I personally don't like Nike's shoes because the last is too narrow for my wide, bunioned feet, but going forward I will always at least check Nikes and buy whatever of their products I can, just because they didn't abandon Tiger. I don't know what products are offered by Accenture, the firm that dropped him so quickly, but their wiki says they're a global management consulting, technology consulting, and technology outsourcing company. I know a little bit about global management (MBA), technology consulting, and technology outsourcing (decades of work experience). Any company that aims for a "we don't make mistakes" image is a crock. Since I'm with a nonprofit it's unlikely I'll ever have reason to make use of Accenture's services, but if they EVER come across my path again, I'm going to remember the hypocrisy of an industry which is built upon learning from the unknown (and, by extension, learning from their mistakes) I'm going to remember the hypocrisy of their abandoning someone who made a mistake.
So I'm a bit sad that, after forcing a playoff round, Tiger failed to win the tournament that bears his name. I was so sure he was going to win that I actually called my Dad then went out instead of watching him play that playoff hole. I thought for sure he had it. And I think that perhaps his losing his four stroke lead today is indicative of the fact that he's still battling inner demons.
Which is why he shouldn't have to battle external demons as well. People need to lay off Tiger. They shouldn't idolize him when he's doing well, and they shouldn't vilify him when he's doing poorly. What's the big deal? Is the fact that he can play gold the sports-world equivalent of being "so articulate?" Is it because he breaks the mold of what's expected for black males in sports(they can excel in basketball, football, and baseball -- and maybe soccer for those who are foreign born)? Is the fact that he's a man of color who's excellent in golf the reason everyone is so fascinated with him?
I'm happy that black folks get to sit at the table. I'm just kinda sick of the fact that, once seated, we're still expected to eat hamhocks and collard greens....
On another note, I'm really excited about teaching Bible study at church. We are going through the geography of the New Testament, so I get to share my experiences with the class. I believe I'm helping facilitate the process of the Bible coming alive for them -- people say they're understanding more now than ever before. That's SUCH a privilege. I kinda regret the fact that I went into business and didn't just become a professional student, which would have led to teaching, since that's what I love and where I ended up, anyway. Although I have a whole lot of life experience, and an amazing testimony about what God can take you to and what God can take you through.
While I was walking today, I got an idea for a sermon. It has to do with mountaintop experiences. We always talk about the mountaintop experiences, but we never think about what you have to go through to get TO the mountaintop. To get up there, you have to climb, which is hard. You have to go up a steep mountain, either directly up, or through switchbacks. If you go through switchbacks, that makes your climb a little bit easier (it's not soooo steep), but it takes longer. As you go up this rough climb, the air is getting thinner, so your heart and lungs are working harder. There are deep crevices on every side, and nothing to hold onto, so there's always a danger of falling. There are stones in the path that you can stumble on, and even though there are resting spots along the way, you can't tarry too long because you've got to keep moving.
I don't really have a point yet; I've made it to the top of Mt. Nebo and looked over, but my testimony with Mt. Sinai will be that sometimes you have to try more than once to make it to the top. But after you get there, the view is glorious, and you can see forever -- you can peep into another land, you can peep into the future, you can look back in wonder at where you've come from and what you've come through -- but once you get to the top of that mountain, it changes you. You don't come down the same as you went up. But then, you have to figure out what to DO after that mountaintop experience.
OK, that's it for tonight....
Granted, the US and world media did the reverse to Obama the candidate, which may have a bit to do with generating the critical mass that allowed him to win, and possibly has to do with why he won the Nobel Peace Prize. It may have been that, or it may have been a knee-jerk reaction to the Bush administration, or it may have been a collective desire to hope again, or it may simply have been that the brother was amazingly more qualified than anyone else who ran. But anyone who's not an idiot understands that the American political system is a big, lumbering, interconnected piece of machinery. There are multiple parts which simultaneously require attention and maintenance. No other American president has, in two terms, achieved what President Obama has achieved in less than one, but it looks like every malcontent in America considers our President fair game.
As I posted in another blog, I believe there's an unspoken conspiracy against men of color. It's expressed in the perverse desire to find fault with Obama, Charlie Rangel, and now Tiger Woods.
I'm not for a minute going to defend Tiger's philandering ways. I think his whole "I'm not black, but eight different ethnicities" spiel, plus his fondness for busty blondes, is probably evidence of the fact that he's simply not in touch with his inner black man. He's not the only one in that category, though, and his inner black man comes out when he's dominating the golf course. OK, he has some personal issues. Some really bad personal issues. That doesn't stop the fact that nobody watched or even cared about gold before Tiger Woods. And his personal issues don't deserve to be splashed all over the news for A YEAR, and they certainly are not appropriate fodder for commentators while he's trying to play golf.
He had a great image. He failed at something. He's human, and he's trying to make a comeback. I personally don't like Nike's shoes because the last is too narrow for my wide, bunioned feet, but going forward I will always at least check Nikes and buy whatever of their products I can, just because they didn't abandon Tiger. I don't know what products are offered by Accenture, the firm that dropped him so quickly, but their wiki says they're a global management consulting, technology consulting, and technology outsourcing company. I know a little bit about global management (MBA), technology consulting, and technology outsourcing (decades of work experience). Any company that aims for a "we don't make mistakes" image is a crock. Since I'm with a nonprofit it's unlikely I'll ever have reason to make use of Accenture's services, but if they EVER come across my path again, I'm going to remember the hypocrisy of an industry which is built upon learning from the unknown (and, by extension, learning from their mistakes) I'm going to remember the hypocrisy of their abandoning someone who made a mistake.
So I'm a bit sad that, after forcing a playoff round, Tiger failed to win the tournament that bears his name. I was so sure he was going to win that I actually called my Dad then went out instead of watching him play that playoff hole. I thought for sure he had it. And I think that perhaps his losing his four stroke lead today is indicative of the fact that he's still battling inner demons.
Which is why he shouldn't have to battle external demons as well. People need to lay off Tiger. They shouldn't idolize him when he's doing well, and they shouldn't vilify him when he's doing poorly. What's the big deal? Is the fact that he can play gold the sports-world equivalent of being "so articulate?" Is it because he breaks the mold of what's expected for black males in sports(they can excel in basketball, football, and baseball -- and maybe soccer for those who are foreign born)? Is the fact that he's a man of color who's excellent in golf the reason everyone is so fascinated with him?
I'm happy that black folks get to sit at the table. I'm just kinda sick of the fact that, once seated, we're still expected to eat hamhocks and collard greens....
On another note, I'm really excited about teaching Bible study at church. We are going through the geography of the New Testament, so I get to share my experiences with the class. I believe I'm helping facilitate the process of the Bible coming alive for them -- people say they're understanding more now than ever before. That's SUCH a privilege. I kinda regret the fact that I went into business and didn't just become a professional student, which would have led to teaching, since that's what I love and where I ended up, anyway. Although I have a whole lot of life experience, and an amazing testimony about what God can take you to and what God can take you through.
While I was walking today, I got an idea for a sermon. It has to do with mountaintop experiences. We always talk about the mountaintop experiences, but we never think about what you have to go through to get TO the mountaintop. To get up there, you have to climb, which is hard. You have to go up a steep mountain, either directly up, or through switchbacks. If you go through switchbacks, that makes your climb a little bit easier (it's not soooo steep), but it takes longer. As you go up this rough climb, the air is getting thinner, so your heart and lungs are working harder. There are deep crevices on every side, and nothing to hold onto, so there's always a danger of falling. There are stones in the path that you can stumble on, and even though there are resting spots along the way, you can't tarry too long because you've got to keep moving.
I don't really have a point yet; I've made it to the top of Mt. Nebo and looked over, but my testimony with Mt. Sinai will be that sometimes you have to try more than once to make it to the top. But after you get there, the view is glorious, and you can see forever -- you can peep into another land, you can peep into the future, you can look back in wonder at where you've come from and what you've come through -- but once you get to the top of that mountain, it changes you. You don't come down the same as you went up. But then, you have to figure out what to DO after that mountaintop experience.
OK, that's it for tonight....
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Stuff
So I'm at home alone, sitting on the couch attempting to take the braids out of my hair. It's a long process and I attempt it in bits. An hour later, I go to start again and suddenly can't find the rat-tail comb I use to take the braids out. I'm looking all over the couch for it. No luck. I go back to the kitchen to see if I set it down while I made the last cappuccino (unlikely, since I don't take hair stuff into my kitchen, but I check). No luck. My apartment is only two bedrooms, so I walk around it looking for the comb, without success.
I'll find it at some point, of course, but it occurs to me that I just have too much stuff. I need to clear out about 75% of my belongings and give them to the Salvation Army. I was doing good for a while, making donations at least once a month, but then life starts to happen -- I'm in the gym 3 nights and one morning a week, in class one night a week, in church all day on Sunday -- yeah, I might go out for dinner on a Friday night, but today after class it took all my energy just to gather my clothes and drop them off at the laundry and the cleaners. In the half day I have to myself, I didn't choose to go through old stuff. I attempted to take the braids out of my hair so I can get it done before the party next week.
Here's an example of stuff. I want to wear a girlie tux to the party -- a skirt suit with tuxedo shirt, tie and cummerbund. My niece did it at her prom and I thought it looked lovely. Now that I'm a normal size, I can do it. I have a ladies' tuxedo shirt, and I got a pink bowtie and a kind of coral-pink cummerbund and tie. And I have a gold vest. I've decided I want to wear the gold vest, but the neither the pink tie nor the coral-colored ensemble looked festive enough. I got all this stuff in thrift shops, which was how I justified spending money on them. But I was too lazy to go thrift shopping after the class today, so I went to that men's store on 125. They of course had bow tie and rubberband sets, as they called them. So I looked at a gold one. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was a brighter shade than the gold vest I have, but I decided to buy it anyway. And because the guy could see the shopping lust in my eyes, he made me a deal on two sets, so I bought a set in red (which I will wear because it will look nice and festive with my gold vest). But I didn't need to buy two sets, and I really didn't need to buy them new -- I coulda got on the train and gone thrift shopping. If you go to the higher-end thrift shops, you'll find new stuff that gets donated, I guess after big parties or weddings or movie shoots -- I didn't need to buy two sets, because now that's just more stuff I have. It's not like I'm actually going to wear this cummerbund thing any more than once, possibly twice a year.
It's that way in every area of my life, and it needs to stop. I have waaaay more than I need of everything (with the possible exception of liquid cash) and need to begin to do as the bumper sticker says: "Live Simply so that others may Simply Live." I think that's going to be my goal. I like to travel, and that should be where my focus goes. No more of these hundred dollar rubber chicken dinners that I don't know what the money goes for anyway... No more nickel and diming and buying useless stuff like cummerbunds I'm never going to use.
I need to get rid of the clutter in every area of my life. No more Stuff -- I think the physical stuff is likely somehow related to emotional "stuff" -- it's like baggage. And I don't need more baggage. I don't need more stuff. It's time to get rid of the Stuff in my life.
Just as soon as I get these braids out....
I'll find it at some point, of course, but it occurs to me that I just have too much stuff. I need to clear out about 75% of my belongings and give them to the Salvation Army. I was doing good for a while, making donations at least once a month, but then life starts to happen -- I'm in the gym 3 nights and one morning a week, in class one night a week, in church all day on Sunday -- yeah, I might go out for dinner on a Friday night, but today after class it took all my energy just to gather my clothes and drop them off at the laundry and the cleaners. In the half day I have to myself, I didn't choose to go through old stuff. I attempted to take the braids out of my hair so I can get it done before the party next week.
Here's an example of stuff. I want to wear a girlie tux to the party -- a skirt suit with tuxedo shirt, tie and cummerbund. My niece did it at her prom and I thought it looked lovely. Now that I'm a normal size, I can do it. I have a ladies' tuxedo shirt, and I got a pink bowtie and a kind of coral-pink cummerbund and tie. And I have a gold vest. I've decided I want to wear the gold vest, but the neither the pink tie nor the coral-colored ensemble looked festive enough. I got all this stuff in thrift shops, which was how I justified spending money on them. But I was too lazy to go thrift shopping after the class today, so I went to that men's store on 125. They of course had bow tie and rubberband sets, as they called them. So I looked at a gold one. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was a brighter shade than the gold vest I have, but I decided to buy it anyway. And because the guy could see the shopping lust in my eyes, he made me a deal on two sets, so I bought a set in red (which I will wear because it will look nice and festive with my gold vest). But I didn't need to buy two sets, and I really didn't need to buy them new -- I coulda got on the train and gone thrift shopping. If you go to the higher-end thrift shops, you'll find new stuff that gets donated, I guess after big parties or weddings or movie shoots -- I didn't need to buy two sets, because now that's just more stuff I have. It's not like I'm actually going to wear this cummerbund thing any more than once, possibly twice a year.
It's that way in every area of my life, and it needs to stop. I have waaaay more than I need of everything (with the possible exception of liquid cash) and need to begin to do as the bumper sticker says: "Live Simply so that others may Simply Live." I think that's going to be my goal. I like to travel, and that should be where my focus goes. No more of these hundred dollar rubber chicken dinners that I don't know what the money goes for anyway... No more nickel and diming and buying useless stuff like cummerbunds I'm never going to use.
I need to get rid of the clutter in every area of my life. No more Stuff -- I think the physical stuff is likely somehow related to emotional "stuff" -- it's like baggage. And I don't need more baggage. I don't need more stuff. It's time to get rid of the Stuff in my life.
Just as soon as I get these braids out....
Friday, December 3, 2010
The United States
is becoming increasingly stupid. It's sad, really -- we don't read, we are not incisive in our educational process, we are preoccupied with current events, publicity, and fame, but shun basic concepts like history, mathematics, politics and logic.
The result is a public that is both unaware and forceful in its imposition of stupidity on the rest of the world. While I have used US support for the modern nation of Israel as one example of how our inability to view the world through any sort of critical lens is becoming detrimental to our national identity, there is another example. That example is our current political state.
We have a first-term president, a political newcomer, Barack Obama. He inherited a nation that was nearly at its knees after eight years of Republican era mismanagement and paranoia. He has stepped in and made a Herculean effort to turn our country around. Yet we have Republicans who, in continuation of their campaign of disinformation, are determined to put their own hysterical (as in hysteria-generating) spin on every move made by this Administration. "Joblessness is at an all-time high!" There are too many budget and regulatory policies for businesses." The reality is that when Obama took office, the stock market was in a freefall, and we'd lost nearly a million American jobs. Now the stock market is slowly correcting itself and the job rate has GROWN consistenly for six months. "Healthcare reform will result in death squads!" (and putting healthcare in the hands of people who are motivated solely by the bottom line will have what sort of impact upon our health?) Environmentalists blame Obama because there is a backlog of species that need protection under the Endangerd Species Act. The Obama Administration has protected an average of 25 species for each year it's been in office. Compare that to an average of 8 species per year for the Bush administration.
In my mind, all this Republican sniping is, whether intentional or not, another manifestation of a uniquely American blend of racism and ignorance. It's like they're all saying "OK, I proved I'm not a racist 'cuz I voted for a black guy. But he promised change, and everything hasn't changed, so get this n-word outta there and give me somebody I can really believe in." The problem with this position, given our national inability to critically examine the issues, is that we're very likely to end up with someone who looks "presidential" (like an actor we've elected before) or someone who has a suitable "presidential pedigree" (like the shrub we kept for two terms), or someone else who merely represents a REACTION to our collective ignorance and lack of critical discernment, rather than someone who actualy has the skills, abilities and represents the possibility for our country's continued viability.
As I look at the matter of Charlie Rangel, I can't help but think two things: 1) it's part of a massive campaign to discredit men of color. It may not be an intentional campaign -- it's part of our collective belief that there is something "other" about people of color. How else do you explain Washington coming together to take this extreme an action against one of its most own most powerful members? I think the fact that Pelosi's censure lasted only 22 seconds reflects her opinions on it. It's as if she were saying "I don't want to do this, but I'm forced to." Why was she forced to? Because the politicians are hanging Rangel out to dry, much as they are abandoning Obama. 2) Although they are both Republicans, I happen to agree intensely with both Peter King 's statements and with Ben Stein's statements regarding Charlie Rangel.
Yes, he made some errors in judgement or got sloppy in his recordkeeping. As the head of the Ways and Means Committee, he needed to be held accountable for that. But giving him the harshest penalty short of expulsion and ruining a career that's spanned a longer time than many people who voted against him have even been on the planet? That's just wrong.
But there are a lot of things going on, inside and outside this country, that are just plain wrong. I'm a bit horrified that we as a people are not aware enough to recognize them. I hope that anyone reading this post will get out to vote and encourage everyone you know to vote -- I'm enough of an American that I don't even care whether or not you vote the same way I would. I care that you are aware and informed and knowledgeable about what terror lies ahead for America. If you choose to doom the country to a future with someone I wouldn't have chosen, that's your choice. My prayer is that we as a country will come to a place where we are making rational, informed choices and are not simply giving in to knee-jerk, emotional reactions.
The result is a public that is both unaware and forceful in its imposition of stupidity on the rest of the world. While I have used US support for the modern nation of Israel as one example of how our inability to view the world through any sort of critical lens is becoming detrimental to our national identity, there is another example. That example is our current political state.
We have a first-term president, a political newcomer, Barack Obama. He inherited a nation that was nearly at its knees after eight years of Republican era mismanagement and paranoia. He has stepped in and made a Herculean effort to turn our country around. Yet we have Republicans who, in continuation of their campaign of disinformation, are determined to put their own hysterical (as in hysteria-generating) spin on every move made by this Administration. "Joblessness is at an all-time high!" There are too many budget and regulatory policies for businesses." The reality is that when Obama took office, the stock market was in a freefall, and we'd lost nearly a million American jobs. Now the stock market is slowly correcting itself and the job rate has GROWN consistenly for six months. "Healthcare reform will result in death squads!" (and putting healthcare in the hands of people who are motivated solely by the bottom line will have what sort of impact upon our health?) Environmentalists blame Obama because there is a backlog of species that need protection under the Endangerd Species Act. The Obama Administration has protected an average of 25 species for each year it's been in office. Compare that to an average of 8 species per year for the Bush administration.
In my mind, all this Republican sniping is, whether intentional or not, another manifestation of a uniquely American blend of racism and ignorance. It's like they're all saying "OK, I proved I'm not a racist 'cuz I voted for a black guy. But he promised change, and everything hasn't changed, so get this n-word outta there and give me somebody I can really believe in." The problem with this position, given our national inability to critically examine the issues, is that we're very likely to end up with someone who looks "presidential" (like an actor we've elected before) or someone who has a suitable "presidential pedigree" (like the shrub we kept for two terms), or someone else who merely represents a REACTION to our collective ignorance and lack of critical discernment, rather than someone who actualy has the skills, abilities and represents the possibility for our country's continued viability.
As I look at the matter of Charlie Rangel, I can't help but think two things: 1) it's part of a massive campaign to discredit men of color. It may not be an intentional campaign -- it's part of our collective belief that there is something "other" about people of color. How else do you explain Washington coming together to take this extreme an action against one of its most own most powerful members? I think the fact that Pelosi's censure lasted only 22 seconds reflects her opinions on it. It's as if she were saying "I don't want to do this, but I'm forced to." Why was she forced to? Because the politicians are hanging Rangel out to dry, much as they are abandoning Obama. 2) Although they are both Republicans, I happen to agree intensely with both Peter King 's statements and with Ben Stein's statements regarding Charlie Rangel.
Yes, he made some errors in judgement or got sloppy in his recordkeeping. As the head of the Ways and Means Committee, he needed to be held accountable for that. But giving him the harshest penalty short of expulsion and ruining a career that's spanned a longer time than many people who voted against him have even been on the planet? That's just wrong.
But there are a lot of things going on, inside and outside this country, that are just plain wrong. I'm a bit horrified that we as a people are not aware enough to recognize them. I hope that anyone reading this post will get out to vote and encourage everyone you know to vote -- I'm enough of an American that I don't even care whether or not you vote the same way I would. I care that you are aware and informed and knowledgeable about what terror lies ahead for America. If you choose to doom the country to a future with someone I wouldn't have chosen, that's your choice. My prayer is that we as a country will come to a place where we are making rational, informed choices and are not simply giving in to knee-jerk, emotional reactions.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Today
was an interesting day. I won the 28-300 mm lens, and also purchased a refurbished LCD projector. Although I've paid for both items through paypal, I don't seem them deducted from the accounts I used to pay for them.
Seems it's been a day for finances. I had our financial consultant come and sit with me in the morning. He was able to give me a wonderful structure, overview, and explanations that I'd not been able to get from our fiscal department in all the months I've been there. I'm now able to look at things from a higher-level point of view, and it allows me to look at trends. I think that's progress.
Another area in which progress is being made is staff. A couple of people handed in resignations today. I can't say more on the internet, but I do believe a period of purging and pruning is necessary before growth can continue.
Today I saw the guy preaching on the subway platform again. I think I've mentioned him before -- he used to talk to nobody in particular. Today he had a good word. He had three pieces of rope: one short to signify people who aren't so bad, one medium length to signify people who are ok, and another longer one to signify everyone else. Then he pulls up the ends of them and makes them all equal because we're all equal in Jesus Christ, and he talks about how Jesus made us all equal through His birth, death, and resurrection. Then he divides them into two groups, because there are really only two kinds of people: those who will accept Jesus and those who will not. He does some more preaching, he exhorts people not to gamble with their salvation, and then he offers tracts in Spanish, English, and Chinese. Like I said, I used to think this guy was crazy, but today I listened intently. He even said how the train might interrupt his talk, and he waited for it. But today I noticed that the first time he made the pitch, three guys took tracts, and the second time he made it, one woman did. I actually cheered when she did, and I walked up to the guy and encouraged him. It was really great to see.
It's 10:15. Time for me to go to bed. God is GOOD!!!!
Seems it's been a day for finances. I had our financial consultant come and sit with me in the morning. He was able to give me a wonderful structure, overview, and explanations that I'd not been able to get from our fiscal department in all the months I've been there. I'm now able to look at things from a higher-level point of view, and it allows me to look at trends. I think that's progress.
Another area in which progress is being made is staff. A couple of people handed in resignations today. I can't say more on the internet, but I do believe a period of purging and pruning is necessary before growth can continue.
Today I saw the guy preaching on the subway platform again. I think I've mentioned him before -- he used to talk to nobody in particular. Today he had a good word. He had three pieces of rope: one short to signify people who aren't so bad, one medium length to signify people who are ok, and another longer one to signify everyone else. Then he pulls up the ends of them and makes them all equal because we're all equal in Jesus Christ, and he talks about how Jesus made us all equal through His birth, death, and resurrection. Then he divides them into two groups, because there are really only two kinds of people: those who will accept Jesus and those who will not. He does some more preaching, he exhorts people not to gamble with their salvation, and then he offers tracts in Spanish, English, and Chinese. Like I said, I used to think this guy was crazy, but today I listened intently. He even said how the train might interrupt his talk, and he waited for it. But today I noticed that the first time he made the pitch, three guys took tracts, and the second time he made it, one woman did. I actually cheered when she did, and I walked up to the guy and encouraged him. It was really great to see.
It's 10:15. Time for me to go to bed. God is GOOD!!!!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
When You've Been Blessed
It's raining outside, and I'm in that mood where my staff occurs for me alternately between annoying and needy. Still, I'm aware of how God has BLESSED my life, and for that I am grateful.
Although I need to establish some partnerships with folk who are willing and able to invest in this neighborhood. My concern is that we're not doing anything new and no one really wants to invest in maintaining the status quo.
In the time it took to write that sentence, my mind went to no less than a dozen different places. I don't for a minute claim ADHD; that's a crutch. I just have to learn to move the rest of my body as quickly as my mind moves.
******
Now it's about 1on Thursday morning. Channel surfing, waiting for the cramps to stop and the Ambien to kick in (this is the downside to the total body blitz). But the Robin byrd show on Channel 35 is mysteriously umscrambled. Robin Byrd is the NYC pseudo soft porn video maven. This show is called Men for Men (i think. Mostly it's just ads).
But i have two observations:
1) I love the human form, but this stylized prancing around and pandering to people's fetishes and proclivities is not vaguely sexy, stimulating, or exciting. It's stilted, silly, and sad.
2) Someone should tell Robin that it's not sexy if your eyes don't both point the same way.
There is now this guy with a VERY hairy basketball but doing pelvic thrusts. There's nothing vaguely erotic about this -- I'm trying to figure out if the people are narcissistic and really think they look good, or if they're drug addicted or in some other situation and are prostituting themselves.
Whatever. It's boring enough that I can feel the sleep kicking in...
Although I need to establish some partnerships with folk who are willing and able to invest in this neighborhood. My concern is that we're not doing anything new and no one really wants to invest in maintaining the status quo.
In the time it took to write that sentence, my mind went to no less than a dozen different places. I don't for a minute claim ADHD; that's a crutch. I just have to learn to move the rest of my body as quickly as my mind moves.
******
Now it's about 1on Thursday morning. Channel surfing, waiting for the cramps to stop and the Ambien to kick in (this is the downside to the total body blitz). But the Robin byrd show on Channel 35 is mysteriously umscrambled. Robin Byrd is the NYC pseudo soft porn video maven. This show is called Men for Men (i think. Mostly it's just ads).
But i have two observations:
1) I love the human form, but this stylized prancing around and pandering to people's fetishes and proclivities is not vaguely sexy, stimulating, or exciting. It's stilted, silly, and sad.
2) Someone should tell Robin that it's not sexy if your eyes don't both point the same way.
There is now this guy with a VERY hairy basketball but doing pelvic thrusts. There's nothing vaguely erotic about this -- I'm trying to figure out if the people are narcissistic and really think they look good, or if they're drug addicted or in some other situation and are prostituting themselves.
Whatever. It's boring enough that I can feel the sleep kicking in...
Monday, November 29, 2010
Korea, A New Lens
So I'm at work. My comptroller has called in sick, which is quite an inconvenience since I don't know how to cut checks and will need to before she comes back. This is part and parcel of running a non-profit -- you need to be able to do everything. For a long time, I'd considered the comptroller indispensible because of her financial expertise, but one always needs to plan for worst-case scenarios -- and here one has arrived. Thankfully, I've already kicked Plan B into action, and the agency will continue on.
While grading papers and moaning over the death of English grammar (side note: I'm also noticing more and more seminary students seeming to focus on grades rather than on actually learning the material. This is a sad commentary, IMHO, on the emerging trend in those who would lead churches. It's as if the interest is not in unlocking the Gospel or in learning more about Jesus, but in preaching that which they hold dear in their own hearts, with no examination, verification, or confirmation that it is anything other than their own personal thoughts). Anyway, while I'm going through all this, I'm waiting to hear if the Seminary will still sponsor a trip to Seoul, South Korea, and if there's any possibility I can be part of a delegation that goes there in May to preach and teach and represent the Seminary. Don't know if I'll get chosen since I'm only an Adjunct; I'm kinda thinking the current political unrest between North and South Korea might make the prospect a bit less attractive to people, but if I know my NYTS family, that will just make it MORE attractive.
So. While I have a lovely camera/laptop backpack, I find it's not really comfortable for changing lenses. Thanks to a suggestion from Don Edmands, whom I met on the Egypt trip, I've decided that instead of a 55mm (or maybe it's 55-70, I don't know) and a 70-210, I would like to have a 28-300. I'll give up a little bit in apertures, but the convenience I'll gain from the zoom will outweigh that, for me. I've bid on a couple on ebay, only to lose the bids by just a couple of dollars. I actually let one go that was used and I decided I didn't want, but then slept a new one I did want (it was silver and doesn't match my camera body, but the price was nice). I've contacted the seller to see if they'll re-list, but haven't yet heard back from them. The Tamron version of the lens sells new for as much as my camera did, but I like it and think I'll continue looking for it. I'm surprised that the only Cyber Monday sales I see on it are a $50.00 rebate that's been in effect for several months.
So that's where I am. My office is absolutely freezing (not sure why, since it was blasting hot on Wednesday), and I'm sitting here with a thick scarf wrapped around my head because I'm so cold. My life here, it seems, is all about money and budgets, so I should go get started.
While grading papers and moaning over the death of English grammar (side note: I'm also noticing more and more seminary students seeming to focus on grades rather than on actually learning the material. This is a sad commentary, IMHO, on the emerging trend in those who would lead churches. It's as if the interest is not in unlocking the Gospel or in learning more about Jesus, but in preaching that which they hold dear in their own hearts, with no examination, verification, or confirmation that it is anything other than their own personal thoughts). Anyway, while I'm going through all this, I'm waiting to hear if the Seminary will still sponsor a trip to Seoul, South Korea, and if there's any possibility I can be part of a delegation that goes there in May to preach and teach and represent the Seminary. Don't know if I'll get chosen since I'm only an Adjunct; I'm kinda thinking the current political unrest between North and South Korea might make the prospect a bit less attractive to people, but if I know my NYTS family, that will just make it MORE attractive.
So. While I have a lovely camera/laptop backpack, I find it's not really comfortable for changing lenses. Thanks to a suggestion from Don Edmands, whom I met on the Egypt trip, I've decided that instead of a 55mm (or maybe it's 55-70, I don't know) and a 70-210, I would like to have a 28-300. I'll give up a little bit in apertures, but the convenience I'll gain from the zoom will outweigh that, for me. I've bid on a couple on ebay, only to lose the bids by just a couple of dollars. I actually let one go that was used and I decided I didn't want, but then slept a new one I did want (it was silver and doesn't match my camera body, but the price was nice). I've contacted the seller to see if they'll re-list, but haven't yet heard back from them. The Tamron version of the lens sells new for as much as my camera did, but I like it and think I'll continue looking for it. I'm surprised that the only Cyber Monday sales I see on it are a $50.00 rebate that's been in effect for several months.
So that's where I am. My office is absolutely freezing (not sure why, since it was blasting hot on Wednesday), and I'm sitting here with a thick scarf wrapped around my head because I'm so cold. My life here, it seems, is all about money and budgets, so I should go get started.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
THANK YOU!!
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and I've just come back to my office afte a couple of hours going from site to site, sharing Thanksgiving with our different programs. It started yesterday, with our Scatter Site programs. We have 55 apartment units in various buildings throughout the City. The people who work in the program combined their resources and put on a great feast for the clients and their guests. It was my privilege to greet them before the meal, hear what they had to be thankful for, and to pray with them. I chose not to dine with them since I had to get back to work, but one of the staff members came by yesterday and brought me THREE PLATES of food.
Today I had two scheduled; one at 1 pm and one at 2 pm. The one at 1 pm was late getting started (Though beautifully decorated); I left there just at 2 pm and went to the second affair. This second one is in a home for people with mental health challenges. The Program Director served plates that were HUMONGOUS -- between that plate and yesterday's stuff, I have four of my five tupperware containers filled.
I still have to go to another event tonight. It's our residence for people living with a particular chronic manageable illness. Since I only have one tupperware container left, I hope there's not too too much food; I also don't know exactly where or how these containers are going to fit into my refrigerator.
Which isn't the biggest problem in the world. Did I mention that I started out the day at BJ's (go to BJ's during the day, btw -- we went before 10 this morning and encountered NO LINES) -- started out the day at BJ's spending about $60.00 on bottled water. Five cases of 24-oz bottles and one case of gallon bottles. I know it's not the most ecologically friendly thing to do, but at least I recycle. So what I started out saying was that if I can spend $60.00 on water and my worst complaint is too much food, how bad can it be?
I very much want to go to Korea in May. There's an NYTS program going. They're looking for a delegation of 10, starting with Boardmembers and profs; they're going to see if an Adjunct can be part of the delegation. That would be awesome. I've never been to Korea. I think I stopped in Taiwan and Taipei when en route to Kuala Lumpur, but have never been to Korea. I'm excited about the possibility.
It's 5 pm on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I'm already on tryptophane overload, but have to go hit one more house. God, I thank you so much for the blessings in my life -- I could have easily been one of our clients. instead, I'm the director of the program. My rent is paid, fridge and closets are full, soul is a witness: it's all good.
So if I can't do nothing else, just let me humble myself and take this moment out just to say "thank You." If my life should end today and not anther blessing come my way, all I'd need is one breath just to say "thank you." Thank you for life. Thank you for Health. thank you for peace, and the promises you've kept."
Fading fast. HAPPY AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING DAY TO EVERYONE!!!
Today I had two scheduled; one at 1 pm and one at 2 pm. The one at 1 pm was late getting started (Though beautifully decorated); I left there just at 2 pm and went to the second affair. This second one is in a home for people with mental health challenges. The Program Director served plates that were HUMONGOUS -- between that plate and yesterday's stuff, I have four of my five tupperware containers filled.
I still have to go to another event tonight. It's our residence for people living with a particular chronic manageable illness. Since I only have one tupperware container left, I hope there's not too too much food; I also don't know exactly where or how these containers are going to fit into my refrigerator.
Which isn't the biggest problem in the world. Did I mention that I started out the day at BJ's (go to BJ's during the day, btw -- we went before 10 this morning and encountered NO LINES) -- started out the day at BJ's spending about $60.00 on bottled water. Five cases of 24-oz bottles and one case of gallon bottles. I know it's not the most ecologically friendly thing to do, but at least I recycle. So what I started out saying was that if I can spend $60.00 on water and my worst complaint is too much food, how bad can it be?
I very much want to go to Korea in May. There's an NYTS program going. They're looking for a delegation of 10, starting with Boardmembers and profs; they're going to see if an Adjunct can be part of the delegation. That would be awesome. I've never been to Korea. I think I stopped in Taiwan and Taipei when en route to Kuala Lumpur, but have never been to Korea. I'm excited about the possibility.
It's 5 pm on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I'm already on tryptophane overload, but have to go hit one more house. God, I thank you so much for the blessings in my life -- I could have easily been one of our clients. instead, I'm the director of the program. My rent is paid, fridge and closets are full, soul is a witness: it's all good.
So if I can't do nothing else, just let me humble myself and take this moment out just to say "thank You." If my life should end today and not anther blessing come my way, all I'd need is one breath just to say "thank you." Thank you for life. Thank you for Health. thank you for peace, and the promises you've kept."
Fading fast. HAPPY AND BLESSED THANKSGIVING DAY TO EVERYONE!!!
Monday, November 22, 2010
This is probably a horrible thought,
but as I'm on the bus this morning I wonder if there's a correlation between the freefall in our economy, the rising prices of everything, the decline in customer service, and the explosion of unwed single parents?
I shouldn't say unwed single parents; I should say "people who have children with no reasonable idea of how they will support them, other than with government subsidies." Personally, I think that if you're not astute enough to connect the dots regarding finances and rearing children, that you shouldn't have them. But it's a free country, and financial security is not everyone's priority. OK, but why then should I have to pay for those children? I had to make decisions regarding the circumstances under which I wanted to reproduce; why should I have to pay, by way of increased taxes and costs, for those who were unwilling or unable to make those decisions? The reason I throw the decline of customer service in the mix is I believe people without parenting skills are rearing children who, in turn, have decreased performance and decreased expectations. The clueless teen behind the counter at McDonald's is an idiot not because he wants to be an idiot, but because he has no standard in his life for being anything other than an idiot.
That may seem mean to say, but I think it's meaner -- ultimately cruel -- to continue on in a society where people normalize irresponsible behavior. I think it's horrible that we have generations on welfare with no one saying "this is unacceptable behavior." If it gets said, people are immediately on the defensive; there is no time for self reflection or self examination, and the issue gets deflected off to the government, or society, or the racism of white people. While all those may be valid contributing factors, if there is no SELF examination, no SELF reflection, no admission that "hey, maybe continuing to make babies on a welfare income isn't a good idea;" or "since I'm on a welfare income, maybe I shouldn't create an atmosphere in which my kids think they need sneakers and leather jackets that cause hundreds of dollars each." -- without some admission that we've reached some apparent cultural and societal abyss, filled with behaviors that are contrary to our living full and complete lives -- without some sort of admission of the problem, it will just persist.
Then again, maybe it's just early Monday morning and I'm feeling bitchy. But I think we as humans are capable of so much more than we've demonstrated. I think we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and so often I think we don't hold up our end of the bargain -- I think we humans are living outside of our Covenant relationship with God. It's tiring, it's depressing -- I don't mean to complain, it's just that I've gotten a glimpse of something so much more marvelous, and I desire that for all humankind. Around me I see so much misery and suffering of various kinds, and it's all unneccessary. It's because we don't recognize who we are.
I just want to hear the Spirit saying that the Wait is Over, and it's God's Time. The Wait is Over, and the Sun is About to Shine... God, I'm ready to walk into my Season. I want the whole of creation to be ready to walk into our Season.
Let's see if I can insert Donald Lawrence's Seasons video here:
Chorus:
I feel seasons everywhere,
and I feel blessings in the air;
those seeds that you've sown,
It's time to come into your own, (seasons),
walk into your seasons.
Verse 1:
I know that you've invested alot,
the return has been slow, you throw up your hands
and say I give up, I just can't take it anymore;
but I hear the Spirit saying, “that it's your time
the wait is over, walk into your season”.
Verse 2:
I believe we're in a time
when God's gonna bless the saints,
those who have stayed, those who have prayed,
He's gonna fulfill the promise He made;
for I heard the Spirit say, “it's your time,
the wait is over, walk into your season”.
Chorus
Bridge:
You've survived the worst of times,
God was always on your side;
stake your claim,
write your name,
walk into this holy place.
(I hear the Spirit saying, that it's your time, the wait is over…)
Vamp 1:
The wait is over it's your time.
Vamp 2:
The wait is over.
Ending:
(I heard the Spirit say,
“that it's your time,
the wait it over),
walk into your season.
I shouldn't say unwed single parents; I should say "people who have children with no reasonable idea of how they will support them, other than with government subsidies." Personally, I think that if you're not astute enough to connect the dots regarding finances and rearing children, that you shouldn't have them. But it's a free country, and financial security is not everyone's priority. OK, but why then should I have to pay for those children? I had to make decisions regarding the circumstances under which I wanted to reproduce; why should I have to pay, by way of increased taxes and costs, for those who were unwilling or unable to make those decisions? The reason I throw the decline of customer service in the mix is I believe people without parenting skills are rearing children who, in turn, have decreased performance and decreased expectations. The clueless teen behind the counter at McDonald's is an idiot not because he wants to be an idiot, but because he has no standard in his life for being anything other than an idiot.
That may seem mean to say, but I think it's meaner -- ultimately cruel -- to continue on in a society where people normalize irresponsible behavior. I think it's horrible that we have generations on welfare with no one saying "this is unacceptable behavior." If it gets said, people are immediately on the defensive; there is no time for self reflection or self examination, and the issue gets deflected off to the government, or society, or the racism of white people. While all those may be valid contributing factors, if there is no SELF examination, no SELF reflection, no admission that "hey, maybe continuing to make babies on a welfare income isn't a good idea;" or "since I'm on a welfare income, maybe I shouldn't create an atmosphere in which my kids think they need sneakers and leather jackets that cause hundreds of dollars each." -- without some admission that we've reached some apparent cultural and societal abyss, filled with behaviors that are contrary to our living full and complete lives -- without some sort of admission of the problem, it will just persist.
Then again, maybe it's just early Monday morning and I'm feeling bitchy. But I think we as humans are capable of so much more than we've demonstrated. I think we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and so often I think we don't hold up our end of the bargain -- I think we humans are living outside of our Covenant relationship with God. It's tiring, it's depressing -- I don't mean to complain, it's just that I've gotten a glimpse of something so much more marvelous, and I desire that for all humankind. Around me I see so much misery and suffering of various kinds, and it's all unneccessary. It's because we don't recognize who we are.
I just want to hear the Spirit saying that the Wait is Over, and it's God's Time. The Wait is Over, and the Sun is About to Shine... God, I'm ready to walk into my Season. I want the whole of creation to be ready to walk into our Season.
Let's see if I can insert Donald Lawrence's Seasons video here:
Chorus:
I feel seasons everywhere,
and I feel blessings in the air;
those seeds that you've sown,
It's time to come into your own, (seasons),
walk into your seasons.
Verse 1:
I know that you've invested alot,
the return has been slow, you throw up your hands
and say I give up, I just can't take it anymore;
but I hear the Spirit saying, “that it's your time
the wait is over, walk into your season”.
Verse 2:
I believe we're in a time
when God's gonna bless the saints,
those who have stayed, those who have prayed,
He's gonna fulfill the promise He made;
for I heard the Spirit say, “it's your time,
the wait is over, walk into your season”.
Chorus
Bridge:
You've survived the worst of times,
God was always on your side;
stake your claim,
write your name,
walk into this holy place.
(I hear the Spirit saying, that it's your time, the wait is over…)
Vamp 1:
The wait is over it's your time.
Vamp 2:
The wait is over.
Ending:
(I heard the Spirit say,
“that it's your time,
the wait it over),
walk into your season.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
It is well
Yesterday morning, Saturday November 20, I started the day by texting Steve and EJ. Steve came and picked me up and we went to Kelly Temple. I always thought COGIC didn't acknowledge female preachers (I went in collar not as fashion statement, but because of DeAnte). They repeatedly offered to seat me with clergy, and were much more accepting of me as a female cleric than I had imagined.
We agreed we were only going to the viewing. We walked in and there was a video screen over the casket with DeAnte preaching his heart out. That was good, because he's been out for like two weeks now. It's time to put my little brother in the ground. Part of the delay, I understand, was that COGIC had its annual conference in St. Louis (he was supposed to have been there) and they had to wait until it was over. They're having another homegoing celebration for him in NC next week. See you around the Throne, DeAnte!
So I came home, changed, and went to 72nd street. I was looking for a home depot there, but ended up in Best Buy where I got Donald Lawrence's latest (Steve had played the one about the King in You, and I had to have it). I also made my first trip into a Bed Bath and Beyond. I got a shower massage, but can see that without restraint I could end up spending a lot of time and money in that place.
On FB yesterday afternoon, I learned that Mrs. Woodard died. As a preacher, I share the Good News of the birth, life, death, resurrection and coming again of Jesus Christ. (thanks, Donnie). And while that is good news, and while God makes no mistakes, I still mourn the absence of Mrs. Woodard from this earth. I am grateful she is being welcomed into her new Home, and grateful that I had the opportunity to teach Bible to her and to see that she was interested and making progress. Still, I'll miss her. What a sweet and dear spirit.
I have seven more papers to grade. I can hardly bear reading them. Between the plagiarism, the pomposity and the perpetual confusion of historical data, I am just worn out.
I'm really struggling with a personal issue -- a feeling of betrayal by someone in whom I'd placed a great deal of trust. Since I don't trust easily, the sense of betrayal is particularly heightened. In general, I think you don't get to straddle a line then retroactively settle on one side of it. It's just like revisionist history. If you're not able to own up to things you've done, whether positive or negative, then how can they be acknowledged and rectified?
So last night I took a nice bubble bath. Bubble baths, chocolate, rest, and much prayer, meditation, and reflection will get me over. At the end of it all, I still give thanks to God!!
We agreed we were only going to the viewing. We walked in and there was a video screen over the casket with DeAnte preaching his heart out. That was good, because he's been out for like two weeks now. It's time to put my little brother in the ground. Part of the delay, I understand, was that COGIC had its annual conference in St. Louis (he was supposed to have been there) and they had to wait until it was over. They're having another homegoing celebration for him in NC next week. See you around the Throne, DeAnte!
So I came home, changed, and went to 72nd street. I was looking for a home depot there, but ended up in Best Buy where I got Donald Lawrence's latest (Steve had played the one about the King in You, and I had to have it). I also made my first trip into a Bed Bath and Beyond. I got a shower massage, but can see that without restraint I could end up spending a lot of time and money in that place.
On FB yesterday afternoon, I learned that Mrs. Woodard died. As a preacher, I share the Good News of the birth, life, death, resurrection and coming again of Jesus Christ. (thanks, Donnie). And while that is good news, and while God makes no mistakes, I still mourn the absence of Mrs. Woodard from this earth. I am grateful she is being welcomed into her new Home, and grateful that I had the opportunity to teach Bible to her and to see that she was interested and making progress. Still, I'll miss her. What a sweet and dear spirit.
I have seven more papers to grade. I can hardly bear reading them. Between the plagiarism, the pomposity and the perpetual confusion of historical data, I am just worn out.
I'm really struggling with a personal issue -- a feeling of betrayal by someone in whom I'd placed a great deal of trust. Since I don't trust easily, the sense of betrayal is particularly heightened. In general, I think you don't get to straddle a line then retroactively settle on one side of it. It's just like revisionist history. If you're not able to own up to things you've done, whether positive or negative, then how can they be acknowledged and rectified?
So last night I took a nice bubble bath. Bubble baths, chocolate, rest, and much prayer, meditation, and reflection will get me over. At the end of it all, I still give thanks to God!!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Thursday, November 18
So I put a bunch of videos up on youtube (over there I'm godskid8256). I've written and taken pictures all my life. Were it not for overly conservative guidance counselors, it's something I would have pursued more formally. Gordon Parks was my idol before and during prep school.
Instead, I wandered through life, learning that I wasn't good at being the square peg jammed into the round hole (or vice-versa). Yeah, even when stoned out of my gourd I could often do better at things than people who loved them with a passion (I'm the person who took first year calculus in high school because I liked the pictures the equations made. When I tried to do it in college because I was dating an engineer, I failed at it miserably). Excellence is pretty much a personal habit. Or at least it was prior to the days of Kaplan, surgically-precise information gathering, and the internet and resulting information overload. Excellence is still a habit, it's just that there are now so many things to distract one from the normal execution of one's habits.
All of which leads me to wonder why I'm so abysmally bad with a videocamera. I get that I'm recording life and am not editing it, but my GOODNESS! There's lots of panning and unsteadiness -- sure I was using a pocket videocam and didn't bother to read the instruction manual, but still!
It's 1 pm, and I've done a day's work already. You can actually get nearly a day's work done between 7 and 10 am, which frees up the rest of your day to play den mother and traffic cop. I like getting stuff done. Which is great, because there's LOTS to do here.
Already looking at other trips back to the Middle East. I also need to start checking my portfolio a bit more closely; I think it would be cool to be retired and go on a trip every quarter or so. But that means you have to be able to finance it, which means I shoulda started yesterday.
Considering that I didn't have anything to say today, it looks like I've written enough. Check out my videos on Youtube. Pray that I'll get better with my little videocamera.
Instead, I wandered through life, learning that I wasn't good at being the square peg jammed into the round hole (or vice-versa). Yeah, even when stoned out of my gourd I could often do better at things than people who loved them with a passion (I'm the person who took first year calculus in high school because I liked the pictures the equations made. When I tried to do it in college because I was dating an engineer, I failed at it miserably). Excellence is pretty much a personal habit. Or at least it was prior to the days of Kaplan, surgically-precise information gathering, and the internet and resulting information overload. Excellence is still a habit, it's just that there are now so many things to distract one from the normal execution of one's habits.
All of which leads me to wonder why I'm so abysmally bad with a videocamera. I get that I'm recording life and am not editing it, but my GOODNESS! There's lots of panning and unsteadiness -- sure I was using a pocket videocam and didn't bother to read the instruction manual, but still!
It's 1 pm, and I've done a day's work already. You can actually get nearly a day's work done between 7 and 10 am, which frees up the rest of your day to play den mother and traffic cop. I like getting stuff done. Which is great, because there's LOTS to do here.
Already looking at other trips back to the Middle East. I also need to start checking my portfolio a bit more closely; I think it would be cool to be retired and go on a trip every quarter or so. But that means you have to be able to finance it, which means I shoulda started yesterday.
Considering that I didn't have anything to say today, it looks like I've written enough. Check out my videos on Youtube. Pray that I'll get better with my little videocamera.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
You can't make it up...
Got to the office before 8 this morning; it's 5:30 and I've accomplished little of what I set out to do. We change signatories on our bank accounts and suddenly all the account names change; every vendor in the South Bronx wants to sell us something (some guy actually came to the office today and brought chicken and beans. I wouldn't see him, cuz I'd just come back from DD where I succumbed to the stress with a gingerbread donut. Which, by the way, is just like everything else at DD -- sugar with a different name.) I have one person who requires two hours of supervision every other week and who, if told to walk down the block, would have to have instructions that said "Lift left foot approximately 6 inches off the ground. Swing left foot forward and place in front of you ...." I can't believe it!
I still feel like I'm living in Plato's Cave. So many times I wish I could live in those shadows -- whether created by me or by others -- I wish I could live in those shadows, because it's a bit more predictable there, and it's not as intense there. But once you've seen reality, even though it's more intense and more taxing and whatever, once you've seen reality there's no way you can go back to the shadow life.
So I guess I'll go home and grade papers. If it were possible to break my spirit, I think today could have done it.
Byron Cage's song, "Broken but Healed" comes to mind. I have to start with the last refrain, though, because that's what's important:
"God has healed, He has delivered.
He has mended my brokenness.
Gave me a miracle to fit my need;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, I have received.
I have received"
I don't like regular mimes, but I do like Gospel Mimes so here are some gospel mimes doing a routine to it:
And here are the lyrics:
So you enter into this building,
you brought your burdens, brought your pain.
I have a message for you today,
that when you leave here, you won't be the same.
So you tell me you've been to your physician,
look at you there's been no change in your condition.
Reach out and touch the Master's Throne,
there's healing for your mind, your body, and your soul.
God can heal, He can deliver.
He can mend your brokenness.
He has a miracle to fit your needs,
once you trust Him, you will receive.
God knows about your situation,
but with every test and every trial there is revelation,
that God is able to supply every one of your needs;
He's here to touch you, heal you, He'll set you free.
So by the time that you leave this building,
my prayer for everyone in here is that you'll have your healing.
Once God works a miracle to fit your need,
go tell the world, what you have received.
God has healed, He has delivered.
He has mended my brokenness.
Gave me a miracle to fit my need;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, I have received.
I have received.
And here's a video of Byron actually performing it:
I'm spozed to be in a meeting in Manhattan in 15 minutes, so guess I should get off the computer and head south now.
I still feel like I'm living in Plato's Cave. So many times I wish I could live in those shadows -- whether created by me or by others -- I wish I could live in those shadows, because it's a bit more predictable there, and it's not as intense there. But once you've seen reality, even though it's more intense and more taxing and whatever, once you've seen reality there's no way you can go back to the shadow life.
So I guess I'll go home and grade papers. If it were possible to break my spirit, I think today could have done it.
Byron Cage's song, "Broken but Healed" comes to mind. I have to start with the last refrain, though, because that's what's important:
"God has healed, He has delivered.
He has mended my brokenness.
Gave me a miracle to fit my need;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, I have received.
I have received"
I don't like regular mimes, but I do like Gospel Mimes so here are some gospel mimes doing a routine to it:
And here are the lyrics:
So you enter into this building,
you brought your burdens, brought your pain.
I have a message for you today,
that when you leave here, you won't be the same.
So you tell me you've been to your physician,
look at you there's been no change in your condition.
Reach out and touch the Master's Throne,
there's healing for your mind, your body, and your soul.
God can heal, He can deliver.
He can mend your brokenness.
He has a miracle to fit your needs,
once you trust Him, you will receive.
God knows about your situation,
but with every test and every trial there is revelation,
that God is able to supply every one of your needs;
He's here to touch you, heal you, He'll set you free.
So by the time that you leave this building,
my prayer for everyone in here is that you'll have your healing.
Once God works a miracle to fit your need,
go tell the world, what you have received.
God has healed, He has delivered.
He has mended my brokenness.
Gave me a miracle to fit my need;
praise the Lord, praise the Lord, praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, I have received.
I have received.
And here's a video of Byron actually performing it:
I'm spozed to be in a meeting in Manhattan in 15 minutes, so guess I should get off the computer and head south now.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...
So I'm back in NYC. Tore a nail and have a band-aid on, which inhibits my ability to type. But anyway, I'm back at work and I'm AMAZED at what I see around me. I can't diss work online, even if I'm the boss, so I need to let it go. But I. Am. Soooo. Tired.
And I'm grading papers. Can't really speak freely on that, either.
What I can speak about is the persistent, enduring diarrhea I've experienced since the trip. It started in Jerusalem, where I just felt cold and achey. The trots started later. While I didn't lose any weight hiking Mt. Sinai or walking around Jerusalem, in the first four days at home I lost something like 8 pounds. That would not have been significant in my old body, but now represents a significant percentage of my body weight. But it's all good. (Question: Why does every one of my 44 employees think that my job is to respond to their immediate needs? Am I the Executive Director or am I the Den Mother?)
I'm only back a couple of days and feel as beat down as if I'd never left. There is a constant press of responsibilities, which is fine; the issue is that everyone thinks their immediate issue is somehow loftier or weightier than any other issue. It's like ours is a culture of immediate gratification, and no one can see the need for nor the benefit of slow, steady, SUSTAINED progress. Oh, well. Whatcha gonna do? Since my life is about the above, it's not like I can make any sudden moves (although God knows I want to. Sometimes I just want to bolt.).
Despite the possibility of having irreparably damaged a relationship with someone about whom I care deeply, I still assert that, for the most part, I've learned the difference between actions dictated by my emotions and those dictated by the facts of the present circumstances. Unfortunately, in this very politicized, totally undiscerning culture in which we live, many people are spin masters to the point their actual perceptions change to fit their concept of reality. (I think we go here to Plato's Forms theory, or, more appropriately, his story of The Cave.) Yes, that's it. We're all living in Plato's (or Socrates') Cave.
Well, prayerfully, not all of us. But there are enough people living in the cave, mistaking shadows for reality, that it makes it really frustrating to attempt to live in any reality different from the shadow one.
Which is why I just call on the name of Jesus. Sometimes, there's no other help you know. Sometimes, it doesn't do any good to weep, wail and moan. Sometimes, you just need Jesus. This is one of those times.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
The song by Fred Hammond that's playing says, "and so I cried, Jesus, I need You. Please don't pass me by. I cried out Jesus, I'm not ashamed. I need You in my life." I know I'm broken, but You can heal me, Jesus, Jesus. I'm calling You, I might not be worth much, but I'm still willing, Jesus, Jesus. ...
I know I'm broken, but You can heal me, Jesus, Jesus. I'm calling You, I might not be worth much, but I'm still willing, Jesus, Jesus ...
I'm calling You, Jesus, Jesus. I'm calling You, Jesus, Jesus....
And I'm grading papers. Can't really speak freely on that, either.
What I can speak about is the persistent, enduring diarrhea I've experienced since the trip. It started in Jerusalem, where I just felt cold and achey. The trots started later. While I didn't lose any weight hiking Mt. Sinai or walking around Jerusalem, in the first four days at home I lost something like 8 pounds. That would not have been significant in my old body, but now represents a significant percentage of my body weight. But it's all good. (Question: Why does every one of my 44 employees think that my job is to respond to their immediate needs? Am I the Executive Director or am I the Den Mother?)
I'm only back a couple of days and feel as beat down as if I'd never left. There is a constant press of responsibilities, which is fine; the issue is that everyone thinks their immediate issue is somehow loftier or weightier than any other issue. It's like ours is a culture of immediate gratification, and no one can see the need for nor the benefit of slow, steady, SUSTAINED progress. Oh, well. Whatcha gonna do? Since my life is about the above, it's not like I can make any sudden moves (although God knows I want to. Sometimes I just want to bolt.).
Despite the possibility of having irreparably damaged a relationship with someone about whom I care deeply, I still assert that, for the most part, I've learned the difference between actions dictated by my emotions and those dictated by the facts of the present circumstances. Unfortunately, in this very politicized, totally undiscerning culture in which we live, many people are spin masters to the point their actual perceptions change to fit their concept of reality. (I think we go here to Plato's Forms theory, or, more appropriately, his story of The Cave.) Yes, that's it. We're all living in Plato's (or Socrates') Cave.
Well, prayerfully, not all of us. But there are enough people living in the cave, mistaking shadows for reality, that it makes it really frustrating to attempt to live in any reality different from the shadow one.
Which is why I just call on the name of Jesus. Sometimes, there's no other help you know. Sometimes, it doesn't do any good to weep, wail and moan. Sometimes, you just need Jesus. This is one of those times.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.
The song by Fred Hammond that's playing says, "and so I cried, Jesus, I need You. Please don't pass me by. I cried out Jesus, I'm not ashamed. I need You in my life." I know I'm broken, but You can heal me, Jesus, Jesus. I'm calling You, I might not be worth much, but I'm still willing, Jesus, Jesus. ...
I know I'm broken, but You can heal me, Jesus, Jesus. I'm calling You, I might not be worth much, but I'm still willing, Jesus, Jesus ...
I'm calling You, Jesus, Jesus. I'm calling You, Jesus, Jesus....
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Back to the Grind
It's Sunday, November 14, and I'm back to the grind. I'm in church, but not worshipping; I wanted to update this blog and now need to grade papers. I'm just not feeling the worship service. We do need to be in prayer for our Senior Bishop, Thomas L. Hoyt, Jr. He's been under the weather lately.
So I've been flat on my back since Thursday morning. The stomach stuff that started in Jerusalem has not ended. My weight stayed pretty constant on the whole trip; since my return home (four days), I've dropped nearly seven pounds. It's great, but I don't think this is the way to do it. I have no energy, can't stand the thought of my protein shakes, and am covered with sweat. Interestingly, I did feel good enough to go to my water aerobics class yesterday morning, but that wiped me out for the whole rest of the day. I think I should probably take this week off from the gym. That will be hard for me, but I think I need to rest.
While I was delirious, I had the strangest dreams! One of them I still remember: I was in Cairo, had rented a car (did I write about how weird Cairo traffic is? No stop lights, no stop signs?) So I had rented a car in Cairo and despite being lost, was zipping around the country doing all kinds of things. I was a little lost, but found my way back. Then I don't remember exactly what happened,but I went back to the store where I had started and didn't see my car. I walked around the neighborhood and never saw the car. While I was walking around, I saw a couple of HUMONGOUS animals -- at first I thought they were elephants, but they turned out to be giant camels -- they had people on top of them, and following them was a HUGE bulldozer type of machine that was pushing up mounds of garbage. The garbage was as big as the the humongous animals, and I had to run fast to not get swallowed up by it.
There was probably more, but that's all I remember now.
Charlie's here talking to me now.
So I've been flat on my back since Thursday morning. The stomach stuff that started in Jerusalem has not ended. My weight stayed pretty constant on the whole trip; since my return home (four days), I've dropped nearly seven pounds. It's great, but I don't think this is the way to do it. I have no energy, can't stand the thought of my protein shakes, and am covered with sweat. Interestingly, I did feel good enough to go to my water aerobics class yesterday morning, but that wiped me out for the whole rest of the day. I think I should probably take this week off from the gym. That will be hard for me, but I think I need to rest.
While I was delirious, I had the strangest dreams! One of them I still remember: I was in Cairo, had rented a car (did I write about how weird Cairo traffic is? No stop lights, no stop signs?) So I had rented a car in Cairo and despite being lost, was zipping around the country doing all kinds of things. I was a little lost, but found my way back. Then I don't remember exactly what happened,but I went back to the store where I had started and didn't see my car. I walked around the neighborhood and never saw the car. While I was walking around, I saw a couple of HUMONGOUS animals -- at first I thought they were elephants, but they turned out to be giant camels -- they had people on top of them, and following them was a HUGE bulldozer type of machine that was pushing up mounds of garbage. The garbage was as big as the the humongous animals, and I had to run fast to not get swallowed up by it.
There was probably more, but that's all I remember now.
Charlie's here talking to me now.
November 10: Headed Home
So on the way to the Allenby Bridge, Peter tells us that Israeli security will ask questsions at the airport. He tells us just to tell them the truth. He lets us kinow they'll examine us extra carefully for staying in Bethylehem and not somewhere in West Jerusalem. So after arriving 20 minutes late and bickering over the prearranged fare, the driver finally is taking us to the airport (I didn't realize that Israel had only one airport, which is in Tel Aviv.). The cabbie tries to tell us to tell the Security checkpoint that we're coming from Jerusalem -- he says it will be easier.
We decide we prefer to go with the truth. Now they've stopped this guy at every possible checkpoint, and it's pretty clear they're doing it because he is Palestinian. The stop us at the security checkpoint before the airport (yea, on the highway headed to the airport), and they snatch his ID, and tell us to come over because they want to talk to us. Some little boy comes up to me and asks "where are you coming from?" I don't think twice before answering "New York. We're going home!" The guy then says "they are your friends?" I say "we were on a tour." And they let us go. I was so glad to be headed stateside that the location in Israel was of no consequence to me. Just get me HOME!!!
So at the airport, we had to have our luggage scanned BEFORE we could get to the ticket counter. They opened up my laptop and sent it through some machine, and they marked one of my bags for followup. I went to the counter. Without even opening the bag, the guy goes, "you bought mud and salt from the Dead Sea?" I told him yes. He asked me where I got it from. I told him I didn't remember, at some place where we stopped on the Dead Sea (which was actually a lie. I got it at Johnny's in Bethlehem, but since I was intent on taking it home, and since it was in the same packaging as the ones on the Dead Sea, I was not about to tell him I got it from a Palestinian shop). He asked me if anyone steered me to it or picked it out for me. I told him I saw it on the shelf, put it in my bag, and paid for it. He let me go.
After that, we had to go through customs and regular gate security -- I forget in what order. But we got to the airport 3.5 hours early, and it took us a good three hours to get through security. While I understand Israel's preoccupation with security, I can't help but think that, as payback for the Holocaust, they've turned into a nation that mimics some of the worst attributes of the Nazis. I know some of y'all are going to be mad at me for saying that, but it's what I think. Go back to the discussion from the guys in Jerusalem, about how Israel uses the Holocaust as both a shield and a sword.
What's especially disturbing to me is seeing the number of dark-skinned pepole they stop, or when you see that they stop you and don't really check anything, or when you give them your passport and they don't even look at it. I've also noticed that if you make eye contact with cute guys and give them that "I'm flirting with you but I really shouldn't be" look, things generally go easier (another tactic is admiring their bodies when you know they're looking at you but they don't know you know). If you openly flirt with them, they'll shut down, but if you feign interest in a way not obvious to them, they are complimented. Everywhere you go, men are still men.
So I'm on the flight as I write this, really upset to be stuck in a middle seat. I'm even more upset because 1) it's a DL flight, I'm a DL frequent flier and they know my preferences; 2) I tried to select my seat in advance and the stupid iphone app wouldn't let me. I BIG MINUS SIGN for delta, even though the guy beside me is fairly cute and seems nice enough. I'm happy the person with the window seat hasn't shown up yet, but they say it's a full flight.....
*****************************
That was the end of what I wrote on the plane. The guy beside me did show up and sprawled all over the seat as he slept all the way to NYC. We got home without incident. And even though I've had this stomach illness since Jerusalem, I'm thrilled to have gone, and can't wait til my next trip back!!!
We decide we prefer to go with the truth. Now they've stopped this guy at every possible checkpoint, and it's pretty clear they're doing it because he is Palestinian. The stop us at the security checkpoint before the airport (yea, on the highway headed to the airport), and they snatch his ID, and tell us to come over because they want to talk to us. Some little boy comes up to me and asks "where are you coming from?" I don't think twice before answering "New York. We're going home!" The guy then says "they are your friends?" I say "we were on a tour." And they let us go. I was so glad to be headed stateside that the location in Israel was of no consequence to me. Just get me HOME!!!
So at the airport, we had to have our luggage scanned BEFORE we could get to the ticket counter. They opened up my laptop and sent it through some machine, and they marked one of my bags for followup. I went to the counter. Without even opening the bag, the guy goes, "you bought mud and salt from the Dead Sea?" I told him yes. He asked me where I got it from. I told him I didn't remember, at some place where we stopped on the Dead Sea (which was actually a lie. I got it at Johnny's in Bethlehem, but since I was intent on taking it home, and since it was in the same packaging as the ones on the Dead Sea, I was not about to tell him I got it from a Palestinian shop). He asked me if anyone steered me to it or picked it out for me. I told him I saw it on the shelf, put it in my bag, and paid for it. He let me go.
After that, we had to go through customs and regular gate security -- I forget in what order. But we got to the airport 3.5 hours early, and it took us a good three hours to get through security. While I understand Israel's preoccupation with security, I can't help but think that, as payback for the Holocaust, they've turned into a nation that mimics some of the worst attributes of the Nazis. I know some of y'all are going to be mad at me for saying that, but it's what I think. Go back to the discussion from the guys in Jerusalem, about how Israel uses the Holocaust as both a shield and a sword.
What's especially disturbing to me is seeing the number of dark-skinned pepole they stop, or when you see that they stop you and don't really check anything, or when you give them your passport and they don't even look at it. I've also noticed that if you make eye contact with cute guys and give them that "I'm flirting with you but I really shouldn't be" look, things generally go easier (another tactic is admiring their bodies when you know they're looking at you but they don't know you know). If you openly flirt with them, they'll shut down, but if you feign interest in a way not obvious to them, they are complimented. Everywhere you go, men are still men.
So I'm on the flight as I write this, really upset to be stuck in a middle seat. I'm even more upset because 1) it's a DL flight, I'm a DL frequent flier and they know my preferences; 2) I tried to select my seat in advance and the stupid iphone app wouldn't let me. I BIG MINUS SIGN for delta, even though the guy beside me is fairly cute and seems nice enough. I'm happy the person with the window seat hasn't shown up yet, but they say it's a full flight.....
*****************************
That was the end of what I wrote on the plane. The guy beside me did show up and sprawled all over the seat as he slept all the way to NYC. We got home without incident. And even though I've had this stomach illness since Jerusalem, I'm thrilled to have gone, and can't wait til my next trip back!!!
Wednesday, November 10: Communion, Masada, Qumran, Wadi Qelt
For those of you who are reading, I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post. I took notes, but it I don't post them to the blog, they tend to get lost. Anyway, we stared the day in the garden of Gethsemane, doing Communion. some say the trees in the Garden are actual witnesses to the Crucifixion, but Josephus and Tacitus, our Roman Historian, tell us that someone razed the entire are for 14 furlongs, which extends beyond the Garden of Gethsemane. Still, there are some VERY OLD trees in the Garden.
1Cor 11: Here is where Paul tells the disciples that he's passing on that which he has received. He's passing on something he received not by hearsay, but by Jesus Christ (which is a hard one for me, since Paul didn't walk the earth at the time of JC. So just where did you get this stuff you're passing on, Pablo? Anyway, I Cor 23 are where e find the words of institution. So we bless and share the bread and wine, we sing a couple of songs, we get our photo ops, and we come down off the mount of olives.
As we head to Masada, we're going to be on the road between Jericho and Jerusalem. There are like two old Roman Roads left, and this one, near Wadi Qelt, is the one like the road used by the Good Samaritan.
We're driving our folk down to the allenby Bridge crossing; on the way back, we'll stop at Wadi Qelt. We'll get good views of the desert from Wadiu Qelt.
Right NOW, we're on the East side of the Mount of Olives. Allezzeria is a modern-day Bethany --- /Alezzeria comes from Alazeron, the burial plot for Lazarus. So Jesus comes up this road, then got=es UP the mount of olives, and then descends into Jerusalem.
On the road to Masada, we're passing by illegal Israeli settlements. We're on Pope Paul VI road, which is the modernized version of the old 'Roman Road. Seeing the stumps of olive trees destroyed ty the Israeli army settlers is heartbreaking.
Now we are qt the "Inn of the Good Samaritan," While it is not historically verified, it IS on the road.
QUMRAN
The significance of Qumran is that the dead seas scrolls were discovered here in 1948? Whenever they were discovered, we know that they were produced here between 150 bc and the time of Jesus. These scrolls, the NAg Hammadi Library, Masada, and King Tut's tomb are considered the most amazing archaeological discoveries of the 20th Century.
What this discovery did was to push back the dating of our existing scrolls by about 1,000 years. Before the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest scrolls were thought to be from the 10th Century. These (Dead Seas Scrolls) show our readings of the existing scrolls were accurate.
Most people referred to the people living here as Essenes. Josephus and Pliny the Elder make reference to people living on the North Shore of the Dead Sea, who had withdrawn from society. The texts, however, don't bear this out. Now (in the 21st Century) we call them Covenanteers. They were not from the priestly caste, yet they took it upon themselves to perform some priestly functions. Because of this, they were considered to be improperly usurping authority. From their point of view, they referred to the High Priest in Jerusalem as the Teacher of Wickedness. They referred to their own High Priest as the Teacher of Righteousness.
In 68AD, members of the community became aware of the approaching Roman legions. They took their documents and put them in pots in the caves. As mentioned before, the scrolls are important to help scholars "fix the text" and show that our readings have not been that far off.
After that, we went to the Allenby Bridge Crossing and watched our comrades head on to Jordan, while we headed back up to Bethlehem. We stopped at Wadi Qelt, and I finally got to take my camel photos.
All the photos from the day can be seen here:
1Cor 11: Here is where Paul tells the disciples that he's passing on that which he has received. He's passing on something he received not by hearsay, but by Jesus Christ (which is a hard one for me, since Paul didn't walk the earth at the time of JC. So just where did you get this stuff you're passing on, Pablo? Anyway, I Cor 23 are where e find the words of institution. So we bless and share the bread and wine, we sing a couple of songs, we get our photo ops, and we come down off the mount of olives.
As we head to Masada, we're going to be on the road between Jericho and Jerusalem. There are like two old Roman Roads left, and this one, near Wadi Qelt, is the one like the road used by the Good Samaritan.
We're driving our folk down to the allenby Bridge crossing; on the way back, we'll stop at Wadi Qelt. We'll get good views of the desert from Wadiu Qelt.
Right NOW, we're on the East side of the Mount of Olives. Allezzeria is a modern-day Bethany --- /Alezzeria comes from Alazeron, the burial plot for Lazarus. So Jesus comes up this road, then got=es UP the mount of olives, and then descends into Jerusalem.
On the road to Masada, we're passing by illegal Israeli settlements. We're on Pope Paul VI road, which is the modernized version of the old 'Roman Road. Seeing the stumps of olive trees destroyed ty the Israeli army settlers is heartbreaking.
Now we are qt the "Inn of the Good Samaritan," While it is not historically verified, it IS on the road.
QUMRAN
The significance of Qumran is that the dead seas scrolls were discovered here in 1948? Whenever they were discovered, we know that they were produced here between 150 bc and the time of Jesus. These scrolls, the NAg Hammadi Library, Masada, and King Tut's tomb are considered the most amazing archaeological discoveries of the 20th Century.
What this discovery did was to push back the dating of our existing scrolls by about 1,000 years. Before the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest scrolls were thought to be from the 10th Century. These (Dead Seas Scrolls) show our readings of the existing scrolls were accurate.
Most people referred to the people living here as Essenes. Josephus and Pliny the Elder make reference to people living on the North Shore of the Dead Sea, who had withdrawn from society. The texts, however, don't bear this out. Now (in the 21st Century) we call them Covenanteers. They were not from the priestly caste, yet they took it upon themselves to perform some priestly functions. Because of this, they were considered to be improperly usurping authority. From their point of view, they referred to the High Priest in Jerusalem as the Teacher of Wickedness. They referred to their own High Priest as the Teacher of Righteousness.
In 68AD, members of the community became aware of the approaching Roman legions. They took their documents and put them in pots in the caves. As mentioned before, the scrolls are important to help scholars "fix the text" and show that our readings have not been that far off.
After that, we went to the Allenby Bridge Crossing and watched our comrades head on to Jordan, while we headed back up to Bethlehem. We stopped at Wadi Qelt, and I finally got to take my camel photos.
All the photos from the day can be seen here:
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Tuesday, November 9 - JERUSALEM
Today we go to Jerusalem! First things first, though. I have to give a big shout out to my friend Deante Pierre Wilson. Deante lived with me for a while when he was just moving to NYC. He was raised in the CME Church, but left if for COGIC. I got a text early this morning telling me that Deante had passed away. I don’t know the circumstances, but as I said on his FB page, “Dude, when I told you to come with me to Jerusalem, I didn’t mean like this…” I’m sure my young brother is exploring this sacred city with me today.
So we’ll enter through the Moroccan gate, then go up to Hara mesh Sharif, then up through the Northern Gate to St. Anne’s church and the pools of Bethsaida, then on to the Lithostratos, then to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. I really want to go in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to see the hill called Golgotha, because I missed that last time.
About 2 pm, we’ll leave through the Jaffa Gate and go to Bill Dockerty’s office at the St. Yves Catholic Relief Peace Society. At 4 we have an appointment in Tentour with Gershon Baskin, an Israeli who founded the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information. Tonight, instead of eating at the hotel, we’ll eat at a local restaurant called the Tent, about 150 yards from the hotel. This is a really ambitious day, and I’m not feeling good.
So. The dome of the Rock is where Abraham was about to sacrifice either Isaac or Ishmael, depending on whether you’re Judeo-Christian or Muslim. It’s also, in the Islamic tradition, where Mohammad ascended to heaven. The El-Aqsa Mosque, nearby, represents Mohammed’s furthest point of travel on earth.
We’re here in Jerusalem, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, walking where Jesus walked, but the question is, where and how would Jesus walk today?
I am really sick, possibly because I made my protein shake with table water last night. They say you can drink the tap water in Israel, but I’ve NEVER been sick like this. I’m hot and cold, I have a monster headache, I’m lethargic, achy, and have no energy. I also think I might puke. I’m sitting in a corner writing while everyone else stands and talks about I don’t know what, because I don’t feel good and am not listening.
We’re leaving the Dome of the Rock and going to St. Anne’s Church, by the pools of Bethsaida. That’s where the sound echoes so nicely. There are lots of Muslim widows begging here at the Dome of the Rock.
So we made our way through the temple mount. It was Muslim prayer time, so we had to leave. We went to the pools of Bethsaida. Peter had Bible study with the passage from John 5. I only came in on the tail end of it, when he explained how Jesus ad not aversion to dealing with people in pagan temples.
We then went into the Cathedral of St. Anne. I don’t know who she was, but as I said before, the acoustics here are great. Last year, an African group sang before us. They were awesome. We sang Holy, Holy, Holy and a couple of other songs.
By this time, I was really faded, and had lagged behind the rest of the group, but Don stayed with me. We called Peter and he directed us to the Lithostratos, which you enter under the arch that says Ecce Homo. You go into a convent.
Inside, Peter was telling us about the geography of the Old City. I am SOOOOOO tired. A lady from the convent interrupted Peter’s presentation to let us know they have materials in English.
My head is KILLING me, my “light” pack suddenly weighs a ton, but I’m here and I’m giving God GLORY!!! I think what made me sick was making the protein shake with tap water. I saw a black man from Texas. The group was kinda wondering why we were speaking to each other, so we had a discussion about how there aren’t so many black people in Israel. There are actually a decent number; I saw both more black Israelis, black American tourists, and black people from other countries than I saw the last time.
We went up on the top of the Sisters of Sinai Convent, several stories above ground. The cool thing about SBS is that Peter knows people and can get you into places the general public can’t get into. We got a marvelous, 360-degree view of Jerusalem. In addition to being a great photo op, it was really cool when the Muslim prayer calls went off. I videoed it. We’ll see how that comes out.
Mark Twain visited here in 1867, and this convent was just under construction then. Peter is telling us all about the history of the convent. Google it if you’re interested. Now he’s talking about the paving stones in the Passion Area helping us to contextualize the story of Jesus. Here is a link to last year’s blog on the Lithostratos.
So back downstairs, we saw photos and diagrams of the Temple Mount Complex, including the Forum Antonia, which was the holding cell for Jesus during His passion. We will go from there to the Western Wall, and Peter is showing us what was originally in the complex and what’s left. A forum (simply an open courtyard or market place) is what he showed us. They put in paving stones to make the forum. In John, when Pilate brings Jesus out and says “Look at the man,” that is commemorated by the arch Ecce Homo (remember we went through it to get to the convent?). Even though archeological evidence tells us it was built 100 years later, by Hadrian.
After that, we talked about “The game of the King.” Again, look at last year’s blog on the subject. With knowledge of the game, it’s easy to imagine the guards were playing that game with Jesus.
Still in the Lithostratos (which means Stone Street). This was referenced in John 19, where it tells us that Pilate takes Jesus out onto a Stone Street. Then we read Mark 15, starting at the 16th verse and going along to where they crucified Him.
We came from St. Anne’s and started along the Via Dolorosa.
We got into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. I TOUCHED THE SPOT WHERE THE CROSS WAS!!!, but the crabby Greek Orthodox priest wouldn’t let us take pictures. I also touched (again) the slab His body was laid on, though I didn’t get any pics doing it this time. I didn’t go to the Empty Tomb again; the lines were too long, and I wasn’t feeling good, for starters.
Another part of the reason I didn’t go to the Empty Tomb is that my hip has started to bother me when I stand for too long. But I think the real reason is that this has become a production line tourist establishment. Last year we came in February and there was a completely different atmosphere. This year it’s November, apparently high season, it’s really crowded, and it seems like they just want to put tourists through. There’s so many tourists, so it’s understandable, but the downside is that you get no time to pray, meditate, and reverence the spot. I wonder if we’ll be rude and pushy and cutting in line when we go to Heaven? If it’s more rude and crowded than this, I don’t know……
3 pm: Our meeting with Bill Dockerty from the St. Yves Catholic Relief Peace Society. Bill tells us that to understand the issues in the Middle East, one needs first to understand the role religion plays in the lives of the people. It is quite different than in the States. Here, whether Christian, Muslim, or Jew, professing believers seem to really believe and to try to live their faith. Perhaps it’s because it’s in the desert and the whole desert spirituality thing, but it’s like people’s sense of spirituality really does pervade every aspect of their daily lives. After the first week of December, when it’s live, go to www.saintyves.org.il for more info.
Last year, the Israeli nut job, Haggain ben Aretz, (link to last year’s blog) had said Palestinians had three choices. They could:
1) Be here with no rights, as second-class citizens
2) Leave; or
3) Stay and be killed.
Again, go to www.saintyves.org.il and download Bill Dockerty’s papers.
The internal debate in Israel I s not about security and The Wall. That’s what they sell to the outside world. The internal debate in Israel is about demographics. If you’re going to have a Jewish state, then non-Jews will have to be expelled.,
What’s going on in Israel is, quite simply, ethnic cleansing. I cannot bear it that my tax dollars support this. The modern nation of Israel is not the same as the PEOPLE Israel. The modern nation of Israel, in my experience, is a racist place where if you’re not Jewish, you don’t belong. While there are darker-skinned Jews here, I wonder how long it will be after they expel the Palestinians that they’ll expel the Sephardic Jews? Israel seems to be about repopulating this area with Ashkenazim – it’s ethnic cleansing. There’s a big push to destroy Palestinian homes and to expel Palestinians. They are also pushing to build more of what’s known in Hebrew as Hafrodah, or settlements. The idea is to divide and conquer. Palestinian developments are separated by roads that can only be used by Israelis. Israelis can detain Palestinians WITHOUT CHARGES for 5, 6, even 7 years. Israeli settlements are not DISPUTED, they are OCCUPIED. Like the nut job said last year, some Israelis think Israel’s borders extend from the Mediterranean to the Jordan.
Palestinians living here have not been allowed to build for forty years. Israelis will take Palestinian ID cards on trumped-up charges. There’s a 35-foot high wall surrounding Bethlehem, you have to stop and have armed guards mount your bus – it’s just ridiculous. It is, effectively, Apartheid. For the US to continue to support this government when they do not even respect the US is anathema. We, the American people, need to get over the fear of being called “anti-Semites” (after all, Palestinians are Semitic, too) and take our stand for peace and justice.
Israel treats the world like mushrooms. It keeps us in the dark and feeds us a lot of BS.
I’m to check out a book called “The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.” Don’t remember the author. During Bill’s talk, I heard him describe piracy, illegal occupation, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid, all committed by Israel. There’s a website to check out. It’s called www.ifamericansknew.org
Next we went on to meet Gershon Baskin, the founder of the Israeli-Palestinian Center for Research and Information. By this time, I was pretty faded, so don’t know how much of his stuff I got. He started talking about geopolitics. We are in Tantur (which means Hilltop in Arabic). Traditionally, this is the site where Mary and Joseph slept on the night before Jesus’ birth. We are technically not in Israel, but in the Vatican. IPCRI is an ecumenical institute for Christians, Arabs, and Jews to get to know each other. It is administered by Notre Dame, and its mission is to get Christians from all over the world talking to one another.
The tower outside is left over from the Order of the Knights of Malta. It used to be a pedestrian walkway, until The Wall was built.
Here at IPCRI, they’re running a microcosm of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This has become a meeting place for Israelis and Palestinians. They’ve been here on an interim basis since 2001, and they are in favor of a two-state solution.
At the end of the day, the US has to mediate an agreement in this conflict, complete with terms, conditions, and consequences. Why the US? Because we’re funding Israel, for one; because we’re Israel’s only real ally in the International Community for two; and because, for better or for worse, taking a stand for what is morally right and just is what we Americans do. Baskin said that a majority of Israelis and Palestinians want peace, but no longer believe it’s possible. The moderate response does not work. We have to impose a solution.
Israel is covered by a US umbrella. The US needs to stop covering Israel until Israel does what the US wants. In a world community where Israel is increasingly unpopular, the US needs to cut its losses and stop supporting Israel.
That’s all for now. I know it’s sketchy, but I feel like crap and there was a LOT to process today…..
Here are the day's photos:
So we’ll enter through the Moroccan gate, then go up to Hara mesh Sharif, then up through the Northern Gate to St. Anne’s church and the pools of Bethsaida, then on to the Lithostratos, then to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. I really want to go in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to see the hill called Golgotha, because I missed that last time.
About 2 pm, we’ll leave through the Jaffa Gate and go to Bill Dockerty’s office at the St. Yves Catholic Relief Peace Society. At 4 we have an appointment in Tentour with Gershon Baskin, an Israeli who founded the Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information. Tonight, instead of eating at the hotel, we’ll eat at a local restaurant called the Tent, about 150 yards from the hotel. This is a really ambitious day, and I’m not feeling good.
So. The dome of the Rock is where Abraham was about to sacrifice either Isaac or Ishmael, depending on whether you’re Judeo-Christian or Muslim. It’s also, in the Islamic tradition, where Mohammad ascended to heaven. The El-Aqsa Mosque, nearby, represents Mohammed’s furthest point of travel on earth.
We’re here in Jerusalem, walking in the footsteps of Jesus, walking where Jesus walked, but the question is, where and how would Jesus walk today?
I am really sick, possibly because I made my protein shake with table water last night. They say you can drink the tap water in Israel, but I’ve NEVER been sick like this. I’m hot and cold, I have a monster headache, I’m lethargic, achy, and have no energy. I also think I might puke. I’m sitting in a corner writing while everyone else stands and talks about I don’t know what, because I don’t feel good and am not listening.
We’re leaving the Dome of the Rock and going to St. Anne’s Church, by the pools of Bethsaida. That’s where the sound echoes so nicely. There are lots of Muslim widows begging here at the Dome of the Rock.
So we made our way through the temple mount. It was Muslim prayer time, so we had to leave. We went to the pools of Bethsaida. Peter had Bible study with the passage from John 5. I only came in on the tail end of it, when he explained how Jesus ad not aversion to dealing with people in pagan temples.
We then went into the Cathedral of St. Anne. I don’t know who she was, but as I said before, the acoustics here are great. Last year, an African group sang before us. They were awesome. We sang Holy, Holy, Holy and a couple of other songs.
By this time, I was really faded, and had lagged behind the rest of the group, but Don stayed with me. We called Peter and he directed us to the Lithostratos, which you enter under the arch that says Ecce Homo. You go into a convent.
Inside, Peter was telling us about the geography of the Old City. I am SOOOOOO tired. A lady from the convent interrupted Peter’s presentation to let us know they have materials in English.
My head is KILLING me, my “light” pack suddenly weighs a ton, but I’m here and I’m giving God GLORY!!! I think what made me sick was making the protein shake with tap water. I saw a black man from Texas. The group was kinda wondering why we were speaking to each other, so we had a discussion about how there aren’t so many black people in Israel. There are actually a decent number; I saw both more black Israelis, black American tourists, and black people from other countries than I saw the last time.
We went up on the top of the Sisters of Sinai Convent, several stories above ground. The cool thing about SBS is that Peter knows people and can get you into places the general public can’t get into. We got a marvelous, 360-degree view of Jerusalem. In addition to being a great photo op, it was really cool when the Muslim prayer calls went off. I videoed it. We’ll see how that comes out.
Mark Twain visited here in 1867, and this convent was just under construction then. Peter is telling us all about the history of the convent. Google it if you’re interested. Now he’s talking about the paving stones in the Passion Area helping us to contextualize the story of Jesus. Here is a link to last year’s blog on the Lithostratos.
So back downstairs, we saw photos and diagrams of the Temple Mount Complex, including the Forum Antonia, which was the holding cell for Jesus during His passion. We will go from there to the Western Wall, and Peter is showing us what was originally in the complex and what’s left. A forum (simply an open courtyard or market place) is what he showed us. They put in paving stones to make the forum. In John, when Pilate brings Jesus out and says “Look at the man,” that is commemorated by the arch Ecce Homo (remember we went through it to get to the convent?). Even though archeological evidence tells us it was built 100 years later, by Hadrian.
After that, we talked about “The game of the King.” Again, look at last year’s blog on the subject. With knowledge of the game, it’s easy to imagine the guards were playing that game with Jesus.
Still in the Lithostratos (which means Stone Street). This was referenced in John 19, where it tells us that Pilate takes Jesus out onto a Stone Street. Then we read Mark 15, starting at the 16th verse and going along to where they crucified Him.
We came from St. Anne’s and started along the Via Dolorosa.
We got into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. I TOUCHED THE SPOT WHERE THE CROSS WAS!!!, but the crabby Greek Orthodox priest wouldn’t let us take pictures. I also touched (again) the slab His body was laid on, though I didn’t get any pics doing it this time. I didn’t go to the Empty Tomb again; the lines were too long, and I wasn’t feeling good, for starters.
Another part of the reason I didn’t go to the Empty Tomb is that my hip has started to bother me when I stand for too long. But I think the real reason is that this has become a production line tourist establishment. Last year we came in February and there was a completely different atmosphere. This year it’s November, apparently high season, it’s really crowded, and it seems like they just want to put tourists through. There’s so many tourists, so it’s understandable, but the downside is that you get no time to pray, meditate, and reverence the spot. I wonder if we’ll be rude and pushy and cutting in line when we go to Heaven? If it’s more rude and crowded than this, I don’t know……
3 pm: Our meeting with Bill Dockerty from the St. Yves Catholic Relief Peace Society. Bill tells us that to understand the issues in the Middle East, one needs first to understand the role religion plays in the lives of the people. It is quite different than in the States. Here, whether Christian, Muslim, or Jew, professing believers seem to really believe and to try to live their faith. Perhaps it’s because it’s in the desert and the whole desert spirituality thing, but it’s like people’s sense of spirituality really does pervade every aspect of their daily lives. After the first week of December, when it’s live, go to www.saintyves.org.il for more info.
Last year, the Israeli nut job, Haggain ben Aretz, (link to last year’s blog) had said Palestinians had three choices. They could:
1) Be here with no rights, as second-class citizens
2) Leave; or
3) Stay and be killed.
Again, go to www.saintyves.org.il and download Bill Dockerty’s papers.
The internal debate in Israel I s not about security and The Wall. That’s what they sell to the outside world. The internal debate in Israel is about demographics. If you’re going to have a Jewish state, then non-Jews will have to be expelled.,
What’s going on in Israel is, quite simply, ethnic cleansing. I cannot bear it that my tax dollars support this. The modern nation of Israel is not the same as the PEOPLE Israel. The modern nation of Israel, in my experience, is a racist place where if you’re not Jewish, you don’t belong. While there are darker-skinned Jews here, I wonder how long it will be after they expel the Palestinians that they’ll expel the Sephardic Jews? Israel seems to be about repopulating this area with Ashkenazim – it’s ethnic cleansing. There’s a big push to destroy Palestinian homes and to expel Palestinians. They are also pushing to build more of what’s known in Hebrew as Hafrodah, or settlements. The idea is to divide and conquer. Palestinian developments are separated by roads that can only be used by Israelis. Israelis can detain Palestinians WITHOUT CHARGES for 5, 6, even 7 years. Israeli settlements are not DISPUTED, they are OCCUPIED. Like the nut job said last year, some Israelis think Israel’s borders extend from the Mediterranean to the Jordan.
Palestinians living here have not been allowed to build for forty years. Israelis will take Palestinian ID cards on trumped-up charges. There’s a 35-foot high wall surrounding Bethlehem, you have to stop and have armed guards mount your bus – it’s just ridiculous. It is, effectively, Apartheid. For the US to continue to support this government when they do not even respect the US is anathema. We, the American people, need to get over the fear of being called “anti-Semites” (after all, Palestinians are Semitic, too) and take our stand for peace and justice.
Israel treats the world like mushrooms. It keeps us in the dark and feeds us a lot of BS.
I’m to check out a book called “The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.” Don’t remember the author. During Bill’s talk, I heard him describe piracy, illegal occupation, ethnic cleansing, and apartheid, all committed by Israel. There’s a website to check out. It’s called www.ifamericansknew.org
Next we went on to meet Gershon Baskin, the founder of the Israeli-Palestinian Center for Research and Information. By this time, I was pretty faded, so don’t know how much of his stuff I got. He started talking about geopolitics. We are in Tantur (which means Hilltop in Arabic). Traditionally, this is the site where Mary and Joseph slept on the night before Jesus’ birth. We are technically not in Israel, but in the Vatican. IPCRI is an ecumenical institute for Christians, Arabs, and Jews to get to know each other. It is administered by Notre Dame, and its mission is to get Christians from all over the world talking to one another.
The tower outside is left over from the Order of the Knights of Malta. It used to be a pedestrian walkway, until The Wall was built.
Here at IPCRI, they’re running a microcosm of the Arab-Israeli conflict. This has become a meeting place for Israelis and Palestinians. They’ve been here on an interim basis since 2001, and they are in favor of a two-state solution.
At the end of the day, the US has to mediate an agreement in this conflict, complete with terms, conditions, and consequences. Why the US? Because we’re funding Israel, for one; because we’re Israel’s only real ally in the International Community for two; and because, for better or for worse, taking a stand for what is morally right and just is what we Americans do. Baskin said that a majority of Israelis and Palestinians want peace, but no longer believe it’s possible. The moderate response does not work. We have to impose a solution.
Israel is covered by a US umbrella. The US needs to stop covering Israel until Israel does what the US wants. In a world community where Israel is increasingly unpopular, the US needs to cut its losses and stop supporting Israel.
That’s all for now. I know it’s sketchy, but I feel like crap and there was a LOT to process today…..
Here are the day's photos:
Monday, November 8, 2010
Monday, November 8 - background and context
Today we're looking at the background and context of Jesus' birth. We started our day with a visit to the church of the Nativity. The first temple was built by Solomon and destroyed in 586 BC. After the Exile, was the return (the period covered in Ezra and Nehemiah). Today we're going to look at the Second temple period. We're going from the Church of the Nativity to the Second Temple Model to the Mount of Olives.
We started our story with Matthew 2, the story of the Magi. The common themes we identified were dreams, supernatural guidance, traveling, and prophecy being fulfilled. From the birth story in Matthew, we can discern that there were three Herods: Antipas, The Great, and Archilaeus. There are actually about 40 different Herods in recorded history. This rule over Judea and Galilee is the backdrop for the Nativity Story. Herod the Great built the Herodian.
So we chatted, and then we did a walking tour of the church of the Nativity. After that, and a brief tour of the Orthodox church that was the site of Jerome's cell, we went off to the Herodian.
At the Herodian, we were at the foot of the Palace fortress complex. There is a place with columns that we're sure was a swimming pool. It would have been plastered around outside and covered with mosaic. Near the pool are the administrative offices.
One of the things we discussed is that, in addition to "Son of God" being a political title, the use of the term "gospel" is to announce the birth of a king. We looked at political writings used to announce one of the Caesars(?) and then looked at the language in one of the Gospels. They were identical. The Greek word Evangeliion was used to mean the Birth of a King.
From the Mount of Olives, Jesus could easily have seen Herod's workers building the Herodian. He could have seen Herod command them to take down one mountain and put all the excess dirt onto another mountain. This puts the phrase "faith to move mountains" into a new light. Jesus' use of "faith that can move mountains" MIGHT refer to Herod's moving the dirt to make the top of the Herodian higher than any surrounding structure. "Faith to move mountains" doesn't mean magic, it means effort, coordination and determination in the face of seemingly impossible odds.
Matthew 2 has reference to "the house" or "his house." That could be Jesus' house. Peter was telling us all the reasons why Jesus was not a peasant, including the language he used towards the Pharisees (this also applies to the language Paul used towards the Corinthians). This language suggests an intimate relationship, not necessarily an adversarial one.
We tried to go to the Orthodox Shepherd's field in Beit Sahur, but it was closed. So we went out of Bethlehem and to the Mount of Olives. From the Mount of Olives, we went to the Israel Museumm and saw the Second Temple Mount model. We also saw the Shrine of the Book, the Israel Museum's exhibit of copies of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
For lunch we went to some place where we had Schwarma, hummus, and falafel. It was great!! Then we went to a mall to look for some aspirin. I got some granola bars.
We went to the Shepherd's Field, the same one from last year. Along the way, it occurred to me that in life, you get choices. You can see everything painted with the same broad strokes, categorizing or compartmentalizing things so you can attach value (or lack thereof) to them, OR you can deconstruct things so much they completely lose their (or any) meaning. Reality and life exist somewhere in between.
This has been really sketchy because I'm really tired, and just trying to jot down my notes. I don't even have enough steam at this point to put in any personal observations -- I just hope that when I finally have time to upload the pictures, that things will start to make sense. But I want to close here with a quote. I don't know whose it is, but I saw it on that horrible wall that surrounds Bethlehem. It says "Any existence deprived of freedom is a kind of death." -Graffitti from The Wall.
It seems to me that the people of this area are all dying a kind of death. Over the last couple of weeks, I've seen lots of similarities in the genesis of many Near Eastern religions. This does nothing to negate or diminish the reality of the Gospel story, in my mind. But it does tend to make me think twice about any religious tradition that would have exclusion or exclusivity as part of its foundational tenets. It makes me think that such movements have elements of cultism where there should be elements of faith.
My thoughts aren't coming out the way I want them to, and I'm going to bed. Tomorrow we do Jerusalem, then we'll do communion in the Garden of Gethsemane on Wednesday, and then on Thursday, I think, we'll leave for home. I'm sorry I didn't go to Jordan this time; will have to do that next trip.
Here's a link to the photos
We started our story with Matthew 2, the story of the Magi. The common themes we identified were dreams, supernatural guidance, traveling, and prophecy being fulfilled. From the birth story in Matthew, we can discern that there were three Herods: Antipas, The Great, and Archilaeus. There are actually about 40 different Herods in recorded history. This rule over Judea and Galilee is the backdrop for the Nativity Story. Herod the Great built the Herodian.
So we chatted, and then we did a walking tour of the church of the Nativity. After that, and a brief tour of the Orthodox church that was the site of Jerome's cell, we went off to the Herodian.
At the Herodian, we were at the foot of the Palace fortress complex. There is a place with columns that we're sure was a swimming pool. It would have been plastered around outside and covered with mosaic. Near the pool are the administrative offices.
One of the things we discussed is that, in addition to "Son of God" being a political title, the use of the term "gospel" is to announce the birth of a king. We looked at political writings used to announce one of the Caesars(?) and then looked at the language in one of the Gospels. They were identical. The Greek word Evangeliion was used to mean the Birth of a King.
From the Mount of Olives, Jesus could easily have seen Herod's workers building the Herodian. He could have seen Herod command them to take down one mountain and put all the excess dirt onto another mountain. This puts the phrase "faith to move mountains" into a new light. Jesus' use of "faith that can move mountains" MIGHT refer to Herod's moving the dirt to make the top of the Herodian higher than any surrounding structure. "Faith to move mountains" doesn't mean magic, it means effort, coordination and determination in the face of seemingly impossible odds.
Matthew 2 has reference to "the house" or "his house." That could be Jesus' house. Peter was telling us all the reasons why Jesus was not a peasant, including the language he used towards the Pharisees (this also applies to the language Paul used towards the Corinthians). This language suggests an intimate relationship, not necessarily an adversarial one.
We tried to go to the Orthodox Shepherd's field in Beit Sahur, but it was closed. So we went out of Bethlehem and to the Mount of Olives. From the Mount of Olives, we went to the Israel Museumm and saw the Second Temple Mount model. We also saw the Shrine of the Book, the Israel Museum's exhibit of copies of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
For lunch we went to some place where we had Schwarma, hummus, and falafel. It was great!! Then we went to a mall to look for some aspirin. I got some granola bars.
We went to the Shepherd's Field, the same one from last year. Along the way, it occurred to me that in life, you get choices. You can see everything painted with the same broad strokes, categorizing or compartmentalizing things so you can attach value (or lack thereof) to them, OR you can deconstruct things so much they completely lose their (or any) meaning. Reality and life exist somewhere in between.
This has been really sketchy because I'm really tired, and just trying to jot down my notes. I don't even have enough steam at this point to put in any personal observations -- I just hope that when I finally have time to upload the pictures, that things will start to make sense. But I want to close here with a quote. I don't know whose it is, but I saw it on that horrible wall that surrounds Bethlehem. It says "Any existence deprived of freedom is a kind of death." -Graffitti from The Wall.
It seems to me that the people of this area are all dying a kind of death. Over the last couple of weeks, I've seen lots of similarities in the genesis of many Near Eastern religions. This does nothing to negate or diminish the reality of the Gospel story, in my mind. But it does tend to make me think twice about any religious tradition that would have exclusion or exclusivity as part of its foundational tenets. It makes me think that such movements have elements of cultism where there should be elements of faith.
My thoughts aren't coming out the way I want them to, and I'm going to bed. Tomorrow we do Jerusalem, then we'll do communion in the Garden of Gethsemane on Wednesday, and then on Thursday, I think, we'll leave for home. I'm sorry I didn't go to Jordan this time; will have to do that next trip.
Here's a link to the photos